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LEROUX 


VAGABOND 


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Copyright,  1917,  by  G.  Schirmer 

G.  S.  27962 


|tfus»c  LibralJ 
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ARGUMENT 

Act  I  shows  a  glade  on  the  outskirts  of  a  forest,  with  cornfields 
beyond,  in  provincial  France.  The  voice  of  the  Vagabond,  a  tramp 
who  has  hired  himself  out  as  a  harvest  hand,  is  heard  off-stage.  Toinette, 
a  village  girl,  preparing  the  mid-day  soup  for  the  harvesters,  admits 
that  she  loves  him.  After  the  reapers  have  eaten  and  while  they  sleep, 
Francois,  no  longer  young,  but  deeply  in  love  with  Toinette,  begs  her 
to  marry  him  and,  refused,  reproaches  her  with  her  preference  for  his 
younger  rival.  The  latter  appears,  is  waited  on  by  Toinette,  and  then 
Pierre,  the  wealthy  farmer,  sending  off  the  girl,  asks  the  Vagabond  to 
stay  and  take  charge  of  his  farm.  The  latter  promises  to  consider  the 
offer,  and  recalls  Toinette  to  discuss  it  with  her.  During  the  ensuing 
love-scene,  she  tries  to  coax  him  to  settle  down  and  marry  her,  but  the 
confirmed  wanderer  shies  at  the  idea  of  "taking  root  in  the  earth  like 
a  beet."  Even  Toinette's  offer  to  go  a-roaming  with  him  falls  on  deaf 
ears.  Finally,  Toinette,  who  cries  out  that  she  has  sacrificed  her  good 
name  for  his  sake,  is  forcibly  prevented  by  Francois  from  following  him 
as  he  is  seen  far  afield,  seeking  the  open  road  for  which  his  soul  yearns. 

Act  II  takes  place  in  a  peasant  interior  of  the  humblest  kind. 
Toinette  has  been  married  to  Francois  for  some  twenty  years;  and  Toinet, 
her  child  by  the  Vagabond,  has  been  brought  up  by  Francois,  with 
full  knowledge,  as  his  own  son.  The  couple  have  fallen  on  evil  days. 
Francois,  sick,  old,  broken,  is  no  longer  able  to  work.  Toinette  tries 
to  cheer  him,  but  cannot  deny  either  her  own  preoccupation  or  Toinet's 
distress.  The  sudden  arrival  of  Aline,  rich  Pierre's  daughter,  leads  to 
the  discovery  of  its  cause.  She  and  Toinet  love  each  other.  Toinet, 
now  entering,  repeats  threats  and  insults  Pierre  has  just  uttered.  Fran- 
cois, indignant,  bids  Aline  go  tell  her  father  to  come  and  answer  for  his 
outrage,  sending  Toinet  away  at  the  same  time.  Pierre  comes,  abuses 
the  honest  couple,  accusing  them  of  scheming  to  give  him  a  pauper 
son-in-law,  and  roundly  declares  him  a  bastard.  Francois,  staggering 
up  to  throttle  Pierre,  is  felled  by  a  stroke  of  paralysis. 

In  Act  III,  before  a  crossroads  tavern,  the  Vagabond  meets  Thomas 
and  Martin,  with  whom  he  had  harvested  so  many  years  ago.  .  From 

3074*?16 


them  and  from  Catherine,  Thomas's  wife,  he  learns  of  the  unhappy 
situation  of  Toinette  and  Francois.  Their  boy  Toinet  haunts  the  taverns, 
drowning  his  love's  sorrow.  He  now  appears  on  the  scene,  far  from 
sober,  and  is  induced  by  Catherine  to  go  to  sleep  in  the  coach-house. 
The  Vagabond,  after  agonized  incredulity  iias  turned  to  joy,  is  convinced 
that  Toinet  is  his  own  child.  He  meets  the  lad's  wretched  mother, 
come  in  search  of  him,  obtains  her  forgiveness  for  the  past,  and  promises 
to  earn  it  by  making  Pierre  withdraw  his  objections  to  the  match,  and 
rendering  Toinet  and  his  mother  happy.  He  meets  his  son  as  a  friend 
of  his  mother's  "before  you  were  born." 

Act  IV,  the  interior  of  Frangois's  cottage,  makes  clear  that  he  has 
been  successful.  Frangois,  gradually  failing,  is  seated  in  his  armchair 
as  before.  But  Toinet,  happily  married  to  Aline,  is  about  to  take  his 
young  wife  to  midnight  mass,  for  it  is  Christmas  Eve.  He  bids  his  mother 
hurry,  and  friends  and  neighbors,  crowding  'round  the  door,  urge  them 
to  hasten.  The  Vagabond  comes  in,  covered  with  snow,  and  the  young 
folk  go  off;  Toinette  follows  them,  after  telling  the  Vagabond  she  is  sure 
that  he  will  not  run  away  to  follow  a  wandering  life  again.  After  her 
departure,  however,  the  Vagabond  recalls  with  longing  his  years  in  the 
open,  evoked  by  the  distant  song  of  the  waits.  Pierre  enters,  and  tell- 
ing him  that  once  poor  Frangois  has  shuffled  off  his  mortal  coil,  everyone 
hopes  he  will  marry  Toinette  and  settle  down,  hurries  off  to  mass  in  his 
turn.  The  Vagabond  is  indignant  at  the  implication  that  he  would 
basely  think  of  falling  heir  to  Frangois's  wife  while  eating  his  bread. 
But  now  the  sick  man  himself,  in  a  lucid  interval,  thanks  the  Vagabond 
for  all  the  kindness  to  his  family,  tells  him  he  is  an  honest  man,  and  begs 
him  to  marry  Toinette  once  he  is  gone.  The  Vagabond  soothes  him  and 
he  drowses  off  again.  The  waits  come,  sing  their  song  and  are  given 
food  and  small  coins  by  the  Vagabond ;  but  he  has  grown  more  and  more 
restless.  The  nostalgia  of  the  open  road  is  upon  him.  He  loves  all 
these  dear  ones  in  the  cottage;  but  his  love  for  the  free  life  of  the  high- 
way is  stronger.  They  will  return  in  time  to  bid  Frangois  godspeed  on 
his  long  journey;  but  the  Vagabond  will  have  gone.  With  a  blessing 
and  a  Christmas  wish  for  those  whom  he  is  leaving  forever,  he  steps  out 
into  the  night  to  take  the  chance  of  the  road  once  more;  while  the  chime  of 
the  Christmas  bells,  the  chant  of  the  choristers,  and  the  distant  singing 
of  the  waits,  sound  out  over  the  snow. 


[4] 


PERSONNAGES 


toinette 
Aline 
Catherine 
Le  Chemineau 
Toinet 

FRANgOIS 

Maitre  Pierre 

Martin 

Thomas 


Soprano  dramatique  ou  Mezzo 

Soprano 

Mezzo 

Baryton 

Tenor 

Baryton 

Basse 

Tenor 

Baryton 


Moissonneurs,  Moissonneuses,  Paysans,  Paysannes,  Enfants 

Au  premier  acte,  une  clairiere  a  l'oree  d'un  bois;    au  troisieme  acte,  un  carrefour  sur  la 

grand'route.     Au  deuxieme  et  quatrieme  actes,  interieur  de 

paysan    a   la   tres    humble   aisance. 

Premiere  representation  au  Theatre  de  l'Opera-Comique  a.  Paris 

Le  6  Novembre  1907 

Direction  de  M.  Albert  Carre 
Chef  d'Orchestre  :  M.  F.  Ruhlmann 


toinette 

Aline 

Catherine 


DISTRIBUTION 

Soprano  dramatique  ou  Mezzo     Mmes  Claire  Friche-Chassevent 
Soprano  Mathieu-Lutz 

Mezzo  C.  Thevenet  et  Sylva 


Le  Chemineau     Baryton 
Toinet  Tenor 

Francois  Baryton 

Maitre  Pierre   Basse 
Martin  Tenor 

Thomas  Baryton 


MM.  Dufrane 
Salignac 
J.  Perier 
Vieuille 
Cazeneuve 
Delvoye 


[5] 


CHARACTERS 


toinette 

Aline 

Catherine 

The  Vagabond 

Toinet 

Francois 

Master  Pierre 

Martin 

Thomas 


Dramatic  Soprano  or  Mezzo 

Soprano 

Mezzo 

Baritone 

Tenor 

Baritone 

Bass 

Tenor 

Baritone 


Reapers  and  Peasants  of  both  sexes;  Children 

Act  I.     A  glade  on  the  outskirts  of  a  wood. — Act  III.     A  crossways  on  the  highway. 
Acts  II  and  IV.     A  peasant  interior  of  the  most  humble  sort 


[6] 


THE    VAGABOND 

(LE  CHEMINEAU) 

Lyric  Opera  in  Four  Acts 


ACTE  PREMIER 

Une  Clairiere  a  Voree  d'un  bois.  A  droite, 
au  premier  plan,  un  talus  couronne  d'une 
Iftaie;  au  pied  du  talus,  un  feu  de  cam- 
pagne  en  pierres  seches;  sur  ce  feu,  une 
marmite;  aupres  du  feu,  une  grosse  pierre 
moussue  pouvant  servir  de  siege.  A  droite, 
au  deuxieme  plan,  quelques  arbustes,  a  Vom- 
bre  desquels  s'etendun  tapis  d'herbesformant 
un  lit  naturel.  A  gauche,  au  premier  plan, 
un  gros  tronc  d'arbre  renverse;  au  deuxie- 
me plan,  un  grand  chene  dont  les  branches 
ombragent  la  clairiere.  Au  fond,  a,  plu- 
sieurs  plans  jusqii  a  Vhorizon,  champs  de 
bles,  les  uns  debout,  les  autres  coupes 
et  en  moyes.  A  Vhorizon,  coteaux  plantes 
de  vignes,  et  un  village  a  tuiles  rouges  avec 
un  clocher  bourguignon.  del  bleu  in- 
cendie  de  soleil.  Le  plus  chaud  du  jour  de 
la  moisson.  Le  rideau  ne  se  leve  quau 
milieu  du  second  couplet.  On  voit  Toinette 
occupee  a  soigner  la  soupe  et  a  preparer 
les  ecuelles.  On  devine  a  gauche  les  mois-' 
sonneurs  dont  le  travail  est  rythme  par  la 
chanson  du  Chemineau. 

SCENE  PREMIERE 
Le  Chemineau,  Toinette 

Le  Chemineau 

La  Jeannett'  s'en  va-t-aux  champs, 
Coupe  un'  javell',  coupe  en  marchant, 
Un  beau  monsieur  par  la  s'amene, 
Lui  dit  :     «  J'voudrais  ton  etrenne.)) 
Coup'  toujours  et  coupe  encor  ! 
Chaqu'  javell'  f'ra  son  tas  d'or. 

La  Jeannett'  dit  au  monsieur  : 

«  Coupe  un'  javelle  et  coup's-en  deux, 

Quand  mem'   tu  s'rais  l'nlleux  d'la  reine, 

(Rideau) 


ACT  THE  FIRST 

A  glade  on  the  outskirts  of  a  wood.  At  the 
right  front  a  slope  crowned  by  a  hedge;  at 
the  foot  of  the  slope  an  open-air  fire  in  a 
fireplace  of  field  stones;  on  the  fire  a  pot; 
near  the  fire  a  large  mossy  stone  ichich 
serves  as  a  seat.  At  the  right,  bach,  a  few 
trees  shadowing  a  carpet  of  verdure  which 
forms  a  natural  bed.  At  the  left  front,  a  great 
overturned  tree-trunk;  at  the  back,  a  large 
oak-tree  whose  branches  shade  the  glade. 
At  the  back  of  the  stage,  on  various  drops 
extending  to  the  horizon,  fields  of  corn, 
in  part  standing,  in  part  cut  and  bound  in 
sheaves.  On  the  skyline,  hills  planted 
with  grapevines,  and  a  village  with  red 
roofs  and  a  Burgundian  church-tower. 
A  blue  sky  flooded  with  sunlight.  It  is 
the  hottest  part  of  the  day  at  harvest  time. 
The  curtain  does  not  rise  until  the  middle 
of  the  second  stanza.  Toinette  is  seen 
watching  the  soup  and  getting  ready  the 
bowls.  The  presence  of  the  harvesters  at 
the  left,  their  work  rhythmed  by  the  Vag- 
abond's song,  is  divined. 

SCENE   I 

The  Vagabond,  Toinette 

The  Vagabond 

'Twas  Jeanette  who  sought  the  fields, 
Cut  a  sheaf,  cut  it  as  you  walk. 
A  pretty  gentleman  going  that  way 
Said  to  her:    "I  want  a  gift  from  you!" 
Keep  on  cutting  and  cut  again! 
Every  sheaf  has  a  tassel  of  gold. 

Said  Jeanette  to  the  gentleman: 
"Cut  a  sheaf,  cut  two  of  them, 
And  though  you  were  the  Queen's  son  himself, 
(Curtain  rises) 


[7] 


8 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Tu  n'auras  pas  mon  etrenne. 
Coupe  encore  et  coup'  toujours  ! 
Chaqu'  javelle  aura  son  tour.  » 

Le  beau  monsieur  dit:    «  J'suis  le  roi, 
Coup'  deux  javell'  et  coup's-en  trois, 
Pour  dev'nir  rich',  pour  dev'nir  reine, 
Gna  qu'a  m'donner  ton  etrenne. 
Coup'  toujours  et  coupe  encor! 
Chaqu'  javell'  f'ra  son  tas  d'or.  )) 

Toinette 

Ah!  ce  chemineau,  comme  il  chante  ! 
Par  lui  la  besogne  s'enchante. 
C'est  le  roi  de  la  chanson, 
C'est  Tame  de  la  moisson. 

Le  Chemineau 

L'grand  gas  cogne  et  le  roi  trinq', 
Coup'  quat'  javell'  et  coup's-en  cinq, 

Toinette  (reveusement) 
Est-il  Dieu  possible  qu'il  m'aime  ! 


Le  Chemineau 

Viv'  la  Jeannett'  qui  n'fut  pas  reine, 
Et  moi  qu'ai-z'eu  son  etrenne. 
Coup'  toujours  et  coupe  encor  ! 
Chaqu'  javell'  f'ra  son  tas  d'or. 

(Pendant  ce  dernier  couplet,  que  chante  an  loin 
a  la  cantonade  le  Chemineau,  on  voit 
venir  par  le  fond  a  gauche  Francois, 
Thomas,  Martin  et  les  autres  moissoii- 
neurs.) 

SCENE  II 

Francois,  Martin,  Toinette, 
Le  Chemineau,  Thomas 

FRANgois  (entrant) 
Ma  foi,  je  suis  las. 


You  should  not  get  a  gift  from  me. 
Keep  on  cutting  and  cut  again! 
Cut  an  every  sheaf  in  turn." 

Said  the  pretty  gentleman:  "I'm  the  king! 
Cut  two  sheaves,  cut  three  of  them; 
Would  you  be  rich,  would  you  be  my  queen, 
You've  only  to  give  a  gift  to  me. 
Keep  on  cutting  and  cut  again! 
Every  sheaf  has  a  tassel  of  gold." 

Toinette 

Ah,  that  Vagabond,  how  he  sings! 
He  gives  a  charm  to  work, 
He's  the  king  of  song, 
He's  the  soul  of  the  harvest. 

The  Vagabond 

The  knave  he  wins  and  the  king  he  sips, 
Cut  four  sheaves,  cut  five  of  them, 

Toinette  (dreamily) 
Can  it  be  that  he  loves  me? 


The  Vagabond 

Long  live  Jeanette,  who  became  no  queen, 
And  myself  who  had  a  gift  of  her. 
Keep  on  cutting  and  cut  again! 
Every  sheaf  has  a  tassel  of  gold. 

(During  the  last  stanza,  which  the  Vagabond 
sings  off-stage,  appear  at  the  left  hack 
Francois,  Thomas,  Martin  and  other 
Reapers.) 


SCENE   II 

Francois,    Martin,    Toinette,    The    Vag- 
abond, Thomas 

Franqois  (entering) 
My  word,  but  I'm  weary. 


THE   VAGABOND 


9 


Martin,  Thomas,  et  les  autres 

MOISSONNEURS 

Nous  de  merae. 


Martin 


On  a  faim. 


Thomas 

Et  soif,  s'il  te  plait. 
(Les  autres  Moissonneurs,  se  couchant.)     On  a 
son  sac  au  complet. 

Toinette  (les  servant) 
Voici  les  ecuelles  pleines. 
Et  pour  oublier  vos  peines 
Voici  le  barlet. 

Tous  (en  chamr) 

Vivent  les  ecuelles  pleines  ! 
Vive  le  barlet  !... 

FRANgois  (mangeant) 
Crane  soupe  ! 

Martin 
fipaisse  et  grasse. 

Thomas  (buvant) 
Houm  !   que  c'est  frais  par  ou  ca  passe  ! 

Martin 

Quel  bon  somme  on  va  faire  apres  ! 

(A  partir  de  ce  moment,  tous,  peu  d  peu,  se 
coucheront  et  s'endormiront.) 

Toinette  (a  Frangois,  avec  admiration) 
Ah  !    le  Chemineau  mene  dur  l'ouvrage. 

FRANgois  (avec  mepris) 
Oui,  quand  un  faineant  s'y  met,  c'est  avec 
rage. 


Martin,    Thomas   and   the   other   Reapers 
And  we're  the  same. 


Martin 
We're  hungry... 

Thomas 
And  thirsty,   if  you  please. 
(The  other  Reapers,  reclining) 

We've  had  all  we  want  of  it. 

Toinette  (serving  them) 
Here,  I've  filled  your  bowls, 
And  to  make  you  forget  your  fatigue, 
Here's  the  broth. 

All 

Hurrah  for  the  filled  bowl! 
Hurrah  for  the  broth! 

Francois  (eating) 
It's  a  fine  soup! 

Martin 
Thick  and  rich. 

Thomas  (drinking) 
Hm,  it  feels  good  going  down! 

Martin 

What  a  nice  nap  one  can  take  after  it ! 

(All,   now,    one   after  another,   lie    down   and 
fall  asleep) 

Toinette  (to  Francois,  admiringly) 
Ah,  the  Vagabond  is  working  hard. 

FRANgois  (contemptuously) 
Yes,    when    a    do-nothing    works,    he    works 
madly. 


10 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Toinette  (s'ecarte  de  lui,  Vair  boudeur) 
Pourquoi  parles-tu  mal  de  lui  ? 

Francois  (se  rapprochant  d'elle) 
En  as-tu  done  de  l'ennui,  ma  gentille  ? 

Toinette  (confuse) 
Helas  !   oui. 

FRANgOIS 

Prends  garde,  la  fille! 

Ces  gens-la  ne  sont  pas  de  la  greffe  a  famille. 


Le  Chemineau  (tres  loin) 
Coupe  encore  et  coup'  toujours! 
Chaqu'  javelle  aura  son  tour. 

FRANgois  {continuant  avec  severite) 

Et  tu  te  prends,  je  le  vois, 

A  la  glu  de  sa  voix... 
(Avec  melancolie  et  une  tendresse  contenue.) 
Ah  !...    si  tu  savais,  ma  pauvre  Toinette. 

Toinette 

Je  sais,  Frangois,  je  sais... 

Toi,  brave,  honnete, 

Ayant  quelques  ramasses, 

Plus  d'une  pour  t'epouser  te  caline. 

Moi  je  ne  suis  qu'une  orpheline, 

Et  pourtant  tu  penses  tout  bas... 

(Elle  suspend  sa  phrase,  confuse.) 

Franc/OIS  (vivement) 
A  toi,  oui  done,  pour  me  mettre  en  menage. 
(Avec  anxiete.) 

Eh  bien...  ? 


Toinette  (apres  une  hesitation) 
Eh  bien !   je  ne  peux  pas. 


Toinette  (drawing  away  from  him,  sulkily) 
Why  do  you  speak  ill  of  him? 

Francois  (drawing  near  her) 
Does  it  displease  you,  my  sweet? 

Toinette  (embarrassed) 
Alas,  yes! 

FRANgois  (severely) 
Take  care,  my  girl! 

Such  people  are  not  the  kind  on  which  to  graft 
a  family. 

The  Vagabond  (far  in  the  distance) 

Keep  on  cutting  and  cut  again! 
Cut  an  every  sheaf  in  turn. 

FRANgois  (continuing  as  before) 

And  he  snares  you,  I  notice, 
With  the  lure  of  his  voice — 
(With  restrained  and  tender  melancholy) 
Ah,  did  you  but  know,  my  poor  Toinette! 

Toinette 

I  know,  Frangois,  I  know — 

You're  good,  honest,  you  have  a  little  saved, 

Many  another  flatters  you,  to  gain  you  for  a 

husband. 
But  I,  I  am  only  an  orphan; 
And  yet,  you  think  to  yourself,  secretly — 
(She  ceases,  embarrased) . 

FRANgois  (quickly) 

Of  you,  and  that's  the  truth,  to  make  a  home 
for  me. 

(anxiously) 

Well? 

Toinette  (after  a  moment's  hesitation) 
Well — I  cannot! 


THE   VAGABOND 


11 


FRANgois  (tristemeni) 
A  cause  de  mon  age. 

Toinette  (gentiment) 
Non,  vrai,  ce  n'est  pas  qa  ! 

FRANgois  (montrant  le  fond  a  gauche) 
A  cause  de  lui  qui  passa  ? 

Toinette 

Dame  !   toi,  je  t'estime  ; 
Puis-je  t'epouser  en  1'aimant  ? 

FRANgois  (avec  une  bonte  rude) 

Tu  crois  1' aimer  seulement. 
Quand  tu  seras  ma  legitime, 
Tu  ne  songeras  plus  a.  lui, 
Qui  demain  aura  fui 
Vers  quelque  amour  nouvelle, 
Comme  il  passe  en  chantant  de  javelle  en 
javelle. 

Le  Chemineau  (a  la  cantonade  plus  prcs) 
Coupe  encore  et  coup'  toujours  ! 
Chaqu'  javelle  aura  son  tour. 

FRANgois 

Apprends  done,  obstinee, 
Si  tu  ne  m'entends  pas, 
Que  son  refrain  te  dit  ta  destinee 
Et  qu'il  te  fauchera  comme  le  ble  fauche  la- 
bas. 

Toinette  (avec  terreur) 
Non  !   non  !   pas  ce  mauvais  presage  ! 

Franqois  (la  pressant) 

Alors,  sois  sage  !... 
Dis-moi  que  tu  m'entends. 
(Toinette  secarte   de  lui  comme    avec   hor- 
reur.) 


Francois  (sadly) 
Because  of  my  age? 

Toinette  (kindly) 
Not  so,  it  is  not  that! 

Francois  (with  a  gesture  toward  the  left  back) 
Because  of  him  who  went  by  there? 

Toinette 
Well  I  esteem  you; 
Could  I  marry  you,  loving  him? 

FRANgois  (with  rough  kindness) 
Bah!  You  only  think  you  love  him. 
When  you're  my  lawful  wife 
You'll  think  of  him  no  more, 
Who  by  to-morrow  will  have  flown 
To  seek  some  new  love, 
Just  as  he  roams  in  passing  from  sheaf  to  sheaf. 


The  Vagabond  (his  voice  is  heard  closer  by) 

Keep  on  cutting  and  cut  again ! 
Cut  an  every  sheaf  in  turn. 

FRANgois 

Learn  from  me,  obstinate  one, 

Though  you  will  not  listen  to  me, 

That  this  refrain  speaks  your  destiny — 

He  will  cut  you  down  as  he  reaps  yonder  grain. 


No, 


Toinette  (terrified) 
no!  not  this  evil  omen! 


FRANgois  (urgently) 

Then,  be  sensible! 
Say  that  you  will  listen  to  me — 
(Toinette  draws  away  from  him  in  horror) 


12 


LE    CHEMINEAU 


Le  Chemineau  (s'approchant) 
L'grand  gas  cogne  et  le  roi  trinqu'. 
Coup'  quat'  javell'  et  coup's-en  cinq. 
Viv'  la  Jeannett'  qui  n'fut  pas  reine, 
Et  moi  qu'ai-z'eu  son  etrenne  ! 
Coup'  toujours  et  coupe  encor  ! 
Chaqu'  javell'  f'ra  son  tas  d'or. 


SCENE  III 

Le  Chemineau,  Toinette, 
Les  Moissonneurs 

Le  Chemineau  (arrive  par  le  fond,  d'une  al- 
lure vive  et  gate) 

Ohe  !   les  sans  courage  ! 
Ohe  !    les  endormis  !... 
On  renacle  a,  l'ouvrage, 
On  boit  sans  les  amis, 
On  s'emplit  la  bousille, 
On  courtise  la  fille, 
Tandis  que  le  bon  drille, 
Suant  sous  son  chapeau, 
Seul  avec  sa  faucille, 
A  chanter  s'egosille, 
Comme  un  grillon  qui  grille, 
Du  soleil  plein  la  peau. 

Toinette  (a  couru  vivement  prendre  sous  nn 
buisson  une  gourde  qxielle  lui  apporte.) 

Tiens,  bois  cette  gourde  plus  fraiche. 

Thomas  (reveille) 
Matin  !    On  te  soigne. 

Le  Chemineau  (boit  avidement) 
En  effet. 


Toinette 

N'  a-t-il  pas  plus  que  vous  gorge  seche 
A  chanter  tout  le  temps  comme  il  fait  ?. 


The  Vagabond  (approaching) 
The  knave  he  wins,  and  the  king  he  sips, 
Cut  four  sheaves,  cut  five  of  them. 
Long  live  Jeannette  who  became  no  queen, 
And  myself  who  had  a  gift  of  her! 
Keep  on  cutting  and  cut  again! 
Every  sheaf  has  a  tassel  of  gold. 


SCENE  III 


The  Vagabond,   Toinette,   The   Reapers 


The  Vagabond 

(coming  up  from  rear  of  stage,  gay  and  lively) 

Holloa!  you  spiritless  fellows! 

Holloa!  you  sleepers! 

You  give  the  go-by  to  your  work, 

You  drink  without  your  friends, 

You  eat  your  fill, 

You  flirt  with  the  girl, 

While  this  poor  devil 

Must  sweat  hard, 

And  alone  with  his  sickle 

Must  take  it  out  in  singing, 

Like  a  roasting  cricket, 

Baked  in  the  sun! 

Toinette    (has    quickly  run   to   get   a  gourd 
from  beneath  a  bush.      She  brings  it  him) 

Here,  drink  from  this  gourd !     It's  fresher. 

Thomas  (awake) 
You  rascal!   They  take  good  care  of  you — 

The  Vagabond  (drinks  with  avidity) 
You're  right! 

Toinette 
Is  his  throat  not  dryer  than  yours 
From  singing  right  along  as  he  has  been  doing? 


THE   VAGABOND 


13 


Le  Chemineau  (gaiement,  s'arretant  de  boire) 

Pas  trop.     J'en  ai  l'accoutumance, 
Ainsi  que  les  oiseaux  des  bois. 
Quand  j'ai  fini  je  recommence, 
Et  c'est  tout  pareil  quand  je  bois. 

(II  se  remet  a  vider  la  gourde.) 
(Maitre  Pierre  est  entre  par  le  fond  de  droite 
pendant  les  demieres  paroles  du   Chemi- 

NEAU.) 


SCENE  IV 

Maptre  Pierre,  Francois,  Le  Chemineau, 
Les  Moissonneurs 

Maitre  Pierre  (en  s'avangant) 

Bois  a  ton  aise, 

Bon  chemineau. 

Tu  boirais  un  tonneau 

Par  ce  temps  de  fournaise, 

Je  ne  m'en  plaindrais  pas. 

Plus  tot,  doublant  le  pas, 

Ma  moisson  sera  faite. 


Francois  (aux  Moissonneurs) 

Ho!    les  gas,  la  fauoille  au  poing! 

Pour  un  qui  manque  on  n'est  pas  en  deroute. 

(lis  le  suivent  vers  le  fond,  a  gauche.) 

Le  Chemineau  (pendant  quils  s'en  vont) 
Le  temps  de  casser  la  croute, 
On  vous  rejoint. 
(II  se  met  a  manger  hdtivement.) 


Maitre  Pierre  (a  voix  basse) 
Oui,  reste  !    Ecoute. 
(II  fait  signe  a  Toinette  de  s'' 'eloigner  par  la 
droite.     Elle  lui  obeit  et  sort  en  envoy  ant 
au  Chemineau  un  baiser,  qu'il  lui  renvoie 
derriere  le  dos  de  Maitre  Pierre.) 


The  Vagabond  (gaily,  ceasing  to  drink) 
Not  very.     I'm  used  to  it, 
Just  like  the  woodland  birds. 
Once  I'm  through,  I  begin  again, 
And  it's  all  the  same  to  me  when  I  drink. 
(He  reapplies  himself  to  emptying  the  gourd. 
Master    Pierre    has    entered    from    the 
right  back  while  The  Vagabond  is  utter- 
ing the  last  ivords.) 


SCENE   IV 

Master  Pierre,  Francois,  The  Vagabond, 
The  Reapers 

Master  Pierre  (advancing) 
Drink  at  your  ease, 
My  good  Vagabond. 
You  might  drink  a  barrel 
During  this  furnace  weather, 
I  would  not  complain. 
Working  twice  as  fast,  my  harvest 
Will  be  gathered  the  sooner. 

Francois  (to  the  Reapers) 
Ho  there,  boys,  sickle  in  hand! 
If  one  be  missing  there's  no  harm  done. 
( They  follow  him  toioard  the  left  back) 

The  Vagabond  (as  they  go  off) 

Just  the  time  to  take  a  bite, 
And  I'll  rejoin  you. 

(He  eats  hastily) 


Master  Pierre  (in  a  low  tone) 
Yes,  wait!    Listen! 
(He  signs  Toinette  to  go,  to  the  right.     She 
obeys  and  goes  off,  waving  a  kiss  to   the 
Vagabond,  ivho  returns  it  behind  Master 
Pierre's  back.) 


14 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


SCENE  V 

Maitre  Pierre,  Le  Chemineau 

Maitre  Pierre 

Dis-moi,  bon  chemineau, 
Mon  grand'  taur  blanc 
Que  tout  le  rnonde  envie 
Et  qui  ralait  la  mort  au  flanc, 
Comment  l'as-tu  remis  en  vie, 
Si  fort,  si  beau  ? 
Dis-le-moi,  bon  chemineau! 

Le  Chemineau  (a  la  fois  gognenard 
et  mysterieux) 

Ho!  ho!  Ho!  ho!  Ho!  ho!  Ho!  ho  ! 
Tire  lire  la  ou.  laire, 
Tire  lire  la  ou  laire. 
Cest  mon  affaire. 
Oh!  oh! 

Maitre  Pierre 

Et  mes  brebis  sans  laine, 
Tout  mon  troupeau  perdu, 
Avec  quoi  leur  as-tu  rendu 
La  toison  pleine  ? 

Le  Chemineau  {meme  jeu,  en  sifflotant) 

Hu!  hu!  Hu!  hu!  Hu!  hu!  Hu!  hu! 
La  ou  laire  tire  lire, 
La  ou  laire  tire  lire, 
Faut-il  le  dire  ? 
Hu!  hu! 

Maitre  Pierre 
Oui,  oni,  dis-le-moi,  mon  ami. 

Le  Chemineau  {meme  jeu,  riant) 

Hi!  hi!  Hi!  hi!  Hi!  hi!  Hi!  hi! 

Qsl  se  fait;   point  ca  ne  se  dit. 

Maitre  Pierre 
Cest  done  des  secrets  de  sorcier  ? 

Le  Chemineau  {grave) 
He!  he!  He!  he! 


SCENE   V 

Master  Pierre,  The  Vagabond 

Master  Pierre 
Tell  me,  my  good  Vagabond, 
My  big  white  bull 
That  everybody  envies  me, 
Who  lay  with  the  death-rattle  in  his  throat — 
How  did  you  resurrect  him 
In  his  strength  and  his  beauty? 
Tell  me,  my  good  Vagabond! 

The  Vagabond    {roguishly  and  mysteriously 
at  the  same  time) 

Hojio!   Ho  ho!    Ho  ho!    Ho  ho! 
Tra  la  la  la  la  la  lo! 
Tra  la  la  la  la  la  lo! 
That's  for  me  to  know! 
Ho  ho! 

Master  Pierre 

And  my  bare  sheep, 

My  flock  that  had  lost  its  wool, 

What  did  you  give  them 

To  make  it  grow  again? 

The  Vagabond  {as  before,  whistling) 

Hoo  hoo!   Hoo  hoo!   Hoo  hoo!    Hoo  hoo! 
Tra  la  la  la  la  la  la  loo! 
Tra  la  la  la  la  la  la  loo! 
Must  I  tell  you? 
Hoo  hoo! 

Master  Pierre 
Yes,  yes,  tell  me,  my  friend! 

The  Vagabond  {as  before,  laughing) 
Hee  hee!  Hee  hee!  Hee  hee!  Hee  hee! 
'Tis  done,  but  is  not  told,  you  see. 

Master  Pierre 
What  are  they  then,  sorcerer's  secrets? 

The  Vagabond  {seriously) 
Ha  ha! — Ha  ha! 


THE   VAGABOND 

MaItre  Pierre 
Peux-tu  me  les  vendre  quand  meme  ? 


15 


Le  Chemineau 
Non!...   Je  les  donne  a  ceux  que  j'aime. 

Ma!tre  Pierre 
Reste  avec  nous,  tu  m'aimeras. 
Sois  mon  premier  gargon  de  ferme. 
Pour  t'avoir,  je  te  paierai  gras. 
Tiens!    Par  an,  cent  pistoles  ferme. 

Le  Chemineau 
Cent  pistoles  ? 


Maitre  Pierre 


Oui. 


Le  Chemineau 
C'est  un  tas. 

Maitre  Pierre 
Alors,  on  fait  «  tope,))  hein  ?    mon  gas  ? 

Le  Chemineau  (meme  jen  que  plus  haul) 
Ho!  ho!  Hu!  hu!  Hi!  hi!  He!  he!  Ah!  ah! 

Maitre  Pierre 
C'est-a-dire  ?... 

Le  Chemineau 
La  ou  laire  tirelire! 
La  ou  laire  tirelire! 
Malurette  et  malure, 
Malurette  et  malure, 
J'y  reflechirai. 

(Le  bousculant.) 

En  attendant,  fais-moi  place  nette! 
J'ai  des  choses  a  dire  a  Toinette. 

(Allant  vers  la  droite  au  fond  et  appelant.) 

Eh!  Toinette! 


Master  Pierre 
At  any  rate,  will  you  sell  them  to  me? 


The  Vagabond 
No,  I  give  them  to  those  I  love. 

Master  Pierre 
Stay  with  me,  you'll  grow  fond  of  me. 
Take  charge  of  my  farm-hands. 
I'd  pay  well  to  get  you.     Ay, 
A  hundred  pistoles  a  year! 

The  Vagabond 
A  hundred  pistoles? 


Master  Pierre 


Yes. 


The  Vagabond 
That's  a  lot  of  money. 

Master  Pierre 
Well  then,  shake  on  it,  eh,  my  boy? 

The    Vagabond    (same    business    as    before) 
Ho  ho!    Hoo  hoo!    Hee  hee!    Ha  ha!    Ah  ah! 

Master  Pierre 
That's  to  say? — 

The  Vagabond 

Tra  la  la  la  la  la  lo! 
Tra  la  la  la  la  la  lo! 
Twiddledee,  twiddledum, 
Twiddledum,  twiddledee, 
I'll  think  it  over. 

(thrusting  him  aside) 

Meanwhile,  get  out! 

I've  something  to  say  to  Toinette. 
(Going    to    back    of   stage,   right,   and  calling) 
Oh!   Toinette! 


16 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Maitre  Pierre  (a  part) 

Laissons-les.     Elle  a  de  l'attrait. 

S'il  pouvait  en  tenir  pour  elle,  il  resterait. 

(77  s'en  va  par  le  fond  a  gauche.) 

Le  Chfmineau  (a  droite,  appelant) 
Eh!  Toinette! 

SCENE  VI 

Toinette,  Le  Chemineau 

Toinette  (arrivant  par  le  fond) 
II  est  parti  ? 

Le  Chemineau 

Mais  oui, 

Ma  douce. 

Viens  sur  ce  banc  de  mousse, 

Viens  pres  de  moi,  tout  pres, 

Pour  qu'a  ton  baiser  frais 

Ma  joie  en  toi  refleurisse. 

Toinette 
Non;    pas  en  ce  moment. 

Le  Chemineau 
Quel  est  done  ton  caprice  ? 

Toinette  (s'asseyant,  suppliante) 
Te  parler  gravement. 
O  mon  aime,  sois  brave. 

Le  Chemineau 

Mais,  Toinette,  rien  n'est  plus  grave 

Qu'un  gueux  quetant  la  charite. 

Or,  je  la  quete,  en  verite. 

Pourquoi  me  dire  un  non  farouche  ? 

Pourquoi,  mechante,  refuser 

A  ce  mendiant  de  baiser 

L'aumone  de  ta  bouche  ? 

{Tout  en  chantant,  il  Va  attiree  sur  sa  bouche.) 


Master  Pierre  (aside) 
I'll  let  him  be.     She's  attractive. 
If  he  can  stand  it  for  her  sake,  he'll  stay. 

(Exit   left,   back) 

The  Vagabond  (at  the  right,  calling) 
Oh!   Toinette! 

SCENE  VI 

Toinette,  The  Vagabond 

Toinette  (entering  from  back) 
Has  he  gone? 

The  Vagabond 
Why  yes, 
My  sweet! 

Come,  take  this  mossy  bench. 
Come  close  to  me,  quite  close, 
That  in  your  dewy  kisses 
My  joy  in  you  reflower. 

Toinette 
No,  not  this  time — 

The  Vagabond 
Well,  what's  your  fancy  now? 

Toinette  (sitting  down;  appealingly) 
To  talk  seriously  with  you,  my  beloved, 
To  ask  you  to  be  good. 

The  Vagabond 
But,  Toinette,  there's  no  one  better 
Than  a  beggar  asking  for  charity ! 
I'm  asking  you  for  alms,  and  that's  the  truth. 
Why  give  me  such  a  savage  'no'? 
Why  be  unkind  and  refuse 
This  mendiant  of  kisses 
The  charity  of  your  lips? 

(While  singing  he  has  drawn  her  to  his  lips.) 


THE   VAGABOND 


17 


Toinette  (alanguie,  puis  melancolique) 
Ah!    tu  sais,  mieux  que  nos  garcons, 
Parler  en  mots  jolis,  cueillis  dans  tes  chansons 
Et  mon  cceur  pris  par  ta  voix  tendre 
Se  grise  au  miel  de  les  entendre. 
Mais  le  vent  qui  va  frivolant 
Les  emporte. 

Le  Chemineau 
S'il  les  emporte  d'un  vol  lent, 
Le  reste,  qu'importe  ? 
Laisse-toi,  si  la  chanson  te  plait, 
Cajoler  jusqu'au  dernier  couplet. 
Profite  du  bonheur  complet 
Que  le  hasard  t'amene. 
C'est  toujours  ca  de  pris 
Sur  la  misere  humaine. 

Toinette 

Helas!    c'est  un  bonheur  qui  ment 
Que  le  notre. 

II  va  passer  et  j'en  voudrais  un  autre 
Qui  dure  eternellement. 

Le  Chemineau 
Par  quel  mystere  ? 

Toinette 

Par  celui  qui  reunit 

Deux  oiseaux  dans  un  seul  nid. 

Ce  bonheur-la,  jamais  il  ne  finit. 

(Insinuante) 
On  aurait  son  foyer,  son  coin  de  terre... 
Mais  d'ou  vient  que  tu  souris  ? 


Le  Chemineau 
C'est  de  me  voir  les  pieds  pris 
En  vieux  cheval  a  l'entrave  ; 
De  voir  l'oiseau  libre  et  fol 
Arreter  soudain  son  vol 
Et  s'enraciner  au  sol 
Comme  une  rave. 


Toinette  (languorously,  then  sadly) 
Ah,  you  know  how,  better  than  do  our  boys, 
To  speak  sweet  words  such  as  you  sing; 
And  my  heart,  snared  by  your  tender  voice, 
Intoxicates  itself  with  their  honey; 
But  the  wanton  wind  that  blows 
Carries  them  away. 

The  Vagabond 
If  the  wind  carries  them  slowly  off, 
What  matters  the  rest? 
Be  at  rest,  and  if  you  like  the  song, 
Cherish  it  to  the  very  last  line. 
The  profit  of  perfect  happiness, 
Which  chance  has  brought  you, 
Is  always  that  much  gained 
Over  and  above  life's  miseries. 

Toinette 

Alas,  it  is  a  happiness  that  lies, 
This  happiness  of  ours; 
It  is  but  passing,  and  I'd  have  one 
That  lasts  forever. 

The  Vagabond 
Through  what  mysterious  agency? 

Toinette 

Through  Him  who  brings  together 
Two  birds  within  one  nest. 
Such  happiness  can  find  no  end. 
(insinuatingly) 

There   would   be   one's   hearth,    one's   bit   of 

ground — 
But  why  do  you  smile? 

The  Vagabond 

To  see  myself  snared, 
Like  some  old  hobbled  horse; 
To  see  the  wild,  free  bird 
Suddenly  arrest  his  flight, 
And  take  root  in  the  earth 
Like  a  beet! 


18 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Non,  non,  uon,  non,  non,  non, 
Toinette,  ma  Toinon. 
Demande-moi  tout,  le  ciel  et  la  terre, 
Et  de  mettre  une  etoile  a  ton  anneau  ; 
Mais  ne  demande  pas  au  Chemineau 
D'etre  proprietaire. 

Toinette  (inierdite) 
Pardon,  pardon  !    J'avais  tort  de  rever  ainsi. 
Non,  tu  n'es  pas  fait  pour  rester  ici. 
Chacun  doit  suivre  sa  nature  ; 
La  tienne,  c'est  d'etre  en  chemin. 
Mais  emmene-moi  par  la  main, 
O  mon  beau  coureur  d'aventure  ! 
Et  j'irai  n'importe  ou, 
Mon  bien-aime,  mon  fou, 
Si  tu  me  laisses  mettre 
Mes  deux  bras  a  ton  cou, 
O  mon  maitre  ! 


Le  Chemineau  (grave  et  triste) 
Helas  !...    Helas  !...    Ce  serait  te  promettre, 
Pour  de  bons  moments  trop  de  mauvais  pas, 
Trop  de  nuits  sans  lits,  de  jours  sans  repas, 
Ou  le  coeur  se  serre. 

Moi,  mon  euir  est  tanne  par  ce  vent  de  misere  ! 
A  toi,  bouton  de  rose,  il  serait  hasardeux. 


Toinette  (tres  tendre) 

Non,  mais  brise  d'avril,  s'il  souffle  sur  nous 
deux. 

Le  Chemineau  (s'alanguissant) 
Jamais  mots  de  tendresse  pareille 
N'ont  plus  doux  caresse  mon  oreille, 
Non,  jamais. 

Toinette 

Tu  pourras,  de  tendresse  aussi  tendre, 
Tout  de  long  de  ta  vie  en  entendre 
Desormais. 


No,  no  no  no  no  no, 

Toinette,  my  Toinette! 

Ask  what  you  will,  the  sky,  the  earth, 

That  I  should  set  a  star  in  your  ring, 

But  do  not  ask  the  Vagabond 

To  become  a  landed  proprietor! 


Toinette  (abashed) 

Forgive    me,    forgive    me!    I    did    wrong    to 

dream  it: 
Nay,  you  were  not  made  to  settle  here. 
Each  one  should  do  as  his  own  nature  urges, 
And  'tis  the  open  road  that  calls  to  you. 
But  take  my  hand,  lead  me  off, 
My  brave  seeker  after  adventures; 
I'll  go  with  you  no  matter  where, 
My  love,  my  madman, 
If  you'd  but  let  me  place 
These  arms  of  mine  about  your  neck, 
O  my  master! 

The  Vagabond  (seriously  and  sadly) 

Alas,  alas!   You'd  have  to  barter 

For  joy's  brief  moments,  too  many  awkward 

steps, 
Too  many  bedless  nights,  days  without  rest, 
When  the  heart  wearies. 
My  skin  is  tanned  by  the  wind  of  adversity : 
You,  little  rose-bud,  dare  not  tempt  its  chill! 

Toinette  (very  tenderly) 

Nay,  'twere  an  April  breeze,  if  breathing  on  us 
two. 

The  Vagabond  (icith  languor) 

Never  have  such  tender  words 

Fallen  with  sweeter  caress  upon  my  ear — 

No,  never! 

Toinette 

Such  tenderness,  if  you  will, 
May  be  yours  to  listen  to  for  all 
Your  life  to  come — 


THE   VAGABOND 


19 


Le  Chemineau  (s'ecartant  brusquement) 
O  douceur  lache  ou  je  m'attarde  ! 
J'en  ai  les  pieds  comme  perclus. 
Si  tu  ne  pars  pas  seul,  prends  garde  ! 
Tu  ne  partiras  plus. 

Toinette  (le  rejoignant) 
Que  dis-tu,  seul,  a  voix  basse  ? 

Le  Chemineau  (trouble,  se  ressaisissant) 
Que  le  temps  passe, 
Et  qu'il  faut  la-bas  ma  chanson 
Pour  finir  la  moisson. 

Toinette  (gaiement,  le  poussant  vers  la  gauche) 
C'est  vrai,  paresseux,  va  vite  ! 

(Elle  se  met  a  ranger  les  ecuelles.) 
Moi  je  range  tout.     Tra  de  ri  de  ra  ! 

(Avec  une  joie  d"  enfant.) 

Ce  soir  ensemble  on  partira. 


Le  Chemineau  (de  loin,  avant  de  disparaitre) 
Pauvre  petite  ! 

SCENE  VII 

Toinette  (seule,  rangeant) 

Et  dire  qu'on  L'avait  traite 

De  vaurien  ehonte  ! 

Avec  ce  vaurien-la,  moi,  j'irai  tete  haute; 

Et  pour  lui  j'ai  faute  sans  remords  de  ma  faute. 


SCF.NE  VIII 

Maitre  Pierre,  Toinette,  Le  Chemineau 
(a  la  cantonade) 

Maitre   Pierre    (est   revenu   par   le  fond   a 
gauche  et  a  entendu  les  dernieres 
paroles   de   Toinette) 
Alors  il  sera  ton  epoux  ? 


The  Vagabond  (drawing  away  brusquely) 
O  cowardly  volupty  that  stays  my  steps! 
It  seems  to  have  lamed  my  feet. — 
If  you  do  not  go  alone,  take  heed, 
You  will  not  go  at  all. 

Toinette  (rejoining  him) 
What  is  it  you  are  saying  to  yourself? 

The  Vagabond  (controlling  his  agitation) 
Time's   running   on. 
And  there  below  they  need  my  song 
To  finish  with  their  reaping! 

Toinette  (gaily,  pushing  him  toward  the  left) 

'Tis  true,  lazy-bones,  hurry  along! 

(She  begins  to  replace  the  boivls) 

I'll  put  everything  in  order.     Tra  la,  tra  la 
di  dey! 

(ivith    childish   joy) 

This  evening  we'll  go  away  together! 

The  Vagabond  (going,  before  he  disappears) 
Poor  little  thing! 

SCENE  VII 

Toinette  (at  work) 

And  to  think  that  they  call  him 

A  shameless  good-f or-naught ! 

Beside  such  a  good-for-naught  I'd  walk  with 

pride ! 
For  him  I've  sinned,  without  remorse  for  sin. 

4 

SCENE  VIII 

Master  Pierre,  Toinette,  the  Vagabond 
(heard  in  the' distance) 

Master  Pierre 
(He  has  returned  from  the  back,  left,  and  has 
heard  Toinette's  last  words) 
Well,  then,  is  he  going  to  marry  you? 


20 


LE    CHEMINEAU 


Toinette  (fierement) 
Dame  oui,  notre  maitre,  j'espere. 

Maitre  Pierre 
Quel  bonheur  !    il  reste  chez  nous, 
Et  voila  ma  ferine  prospere. 

Le  Chemineau  (an  fond,  a  gauche,  a  la 
cantonade) 

Coup'  toujours  et  coupe  encor  ! 
Chaqu'  javell'  f  ra  son  tas  d'or. 

Maitre  Pierre 

Entends  de  quel  coeur  il  moissonne 
Et  dans  Tor  de  sa  voix  l'or  de  mon  ble  qui 
sonne. 

scene  IX 

FRANgois,   Maitre  Pierre,   Toinette, 
Le  Chemineau  (a  la  cantonade) 

FRANgois  (entrant  par  le  fond  a  gauche) 
Maitre,  tour  est  fait  jusqu'au  dernier  brin 
Et  sans  l'autre  avec  son  refrain. 

Toinette 
Tu  mens  !    Ecoute. 

Le  Chemineau  (au  loin) 

Coupe  encor  et  coup'  toujours  ! 
Chaqu'  javelle  aura  son  tour. 

FRANgois 
C'est  qu'il  est  gai  de  se  remettre  en  route. 

Toinette 
Lui  !...    Mais  il  ne  s'en  va  pas  ! 

FRANgois  (montrant  le  fond  a  droite) 
Regarde  la-bas, 
Passe  le  vieux  saule, 


Toinette  (proudly) 
Indeed,  yes,  I  should  hope  so,  my  master! 

Master  Pierre 

That's  excellent!    He'll  stay  with  us, 
And  now  my  farm  shall  prosper. 

The  Vagabond  (at  the  back,  left,  off-stage) 

Keep  on  cutting  and  cut  again! 
Each  sheaf  has  a  tassel  of  gold. 


Master  Pierre 

He's  reaping  with  all  his  heart, 
'Tis  my  golden  grain  that  sings  in  his  voice 
of  gold. 

SCENE  IX 

FRANgois,  Master  Pierre,  Toinette,  The 
Vagabond  (heard  in  the  distance) 

FRANgois  (enters  from  the  back,  left) 
Master,  all  is  done,  down  to  the  last  straw, 
Without  that  fellow  and  his  song! 

Toinette 
You  lie!   Listen — 

The  Vagabond 
Keep  on  cutting  and  cut  again! 
Cut  an  every  sheaf  in  turn. 

FRANgois 
He's  glad  to  get  back  to  the  road  again. 


Toinette 
He?   But    he's    not    going! 

FRANgois   (pointing  toward  the  right,  back) 

Look  down  yonder, 
Beyond  the  old  willow 


THE   VAGABOND 


21 


Au  bord  du  chemin, 
Sa  trique  a  la  main, 
Son  sac  a  l'epaule. 

Toinette  (regardant) 
Non,  ce  n'est  pas  lui  ! 

Maitre  Pierre  (regardant  aitssi) 
Si,  le  mauvais  drole, 
C'est  lui  qui  s'enfuit. 

Toinette  (voulant  courir  vers  lui) 
Ah  !    Chemineau  ! 

FRANgois  (la  retenant) 
Tais-toi. 

Toinette  (se  debattant) 

Laisse-moi 

Qu'avec  lui  je  m'en  aille. 

Maitre  Pierre 
Oui,  laisse-la. 

FRANgois 
Suivre  cette  canaille  ! 
Non,  jamais  !... 

Toinette  (violemment) 

Je  l'aime,  entends-tu  ! 
Je  suis  sans  honte  et  sans  vertu, 
Et  pire  encor  qu'on  ne  suppose, 
La  sienne,  as-tu  compris,  sa  chose. 

FRANgois  (la  tenant  toujours) 
Ah  !     dis  ce  que  tu  veux  pour  m'emplir  de 

chagrin, 
Tu  ne  t'en  iras  pas  avec  ce  malandrin. 

Toinette 
Si,  si  ! 


By  the  roadside, 

His  cudgel  in  his  hand, 

His  bag  over  his  shoulder — 

Toinette 
No!    that  is  not  he! 

Master  Pierre  (also  looking) 

Yes,  the  scoundrelly  fellow, 
'Tis  he  who's  running  away! 

Toinette     (attempting    to    run     after    him) 
Ah,  Vagabond! 

FRANgois  (holding  her  back) 
Be  still! 

Toinette  (as  they  struggle) 

Let  me  be! 

I  am  going  away  with  him! 

Master  Pierre 
Yes,    leave   her   alone. 

FRANgois 
To  follow  that  rascal? 


No, 


never : 


Toinette  (violently) 

1  love  him,  do  you  hear? 

I've  neither  shame  nor  virtue, 

I'm  even  worse  than  you  may  think, — 

I'm  his,  d'you  understand,  his  creature! 

FRANgois  (still  holding  her) 
Ah,  say  what  you  will  to  fill  me  with  sorrow; 
Yet  you  shall  not  follow  that  rascal. 


Toinette 
Yes,  yes! 


22 

Maitre  Pierre 
Lache-la  done.     Tu  vois  bien  qu'elle  est  folle 


LE   CHEMINEAU 

Master  Pierre 
Release  her!  Do  you  not  see  that  she  is  mad? 


Toinette  (a  genoux,  'puis  vautree  a  terre  et 
sanglotant) 

La-bas... 

Je  veux  aller  la-bas  ! 

Oui,  je  suis  folle,  folle,  folle,  folle,  folle  ! 

Les  fous,  on  ne  les  guerit  pas. 

Franqois  (la  cdlinant) 
On  les  console. 

Le  Chemineau  (tres  loin) 

Coupe  encor  et  coup'  toujours  ! 
Chaqu'  javelle  aura  son  tour. 

(Rideau) 


Toinette  (sinking  to  her  knees,  then  flat  on  the 
ground,  sobbing) 

Down  there, 

I  want  to  go  down  there! 

Yes,  I  am  mad,  mad,  mad,  mad,  mad! 

And  the  mad  cannot  be  cured. 

Franqois  (caressing  her) 
They  can  be  consoled — 

The  Vagabond  (far  in  the  distance) 

Keep  on  cutting  and  cut  again! 
Cut  an  every  sheaf  in  turn. 

( Curtain) 


ACTE  DEUXIEME 

Interieur  de  paysan  a  la  ires  humble  aisance. 
A  droite,  au  'premier  plan,  aire  large  et  pro- 
fond  dans  lequel  on  pent  s'asseoir.  Pres 
de  Voire,  tin  grand  fauteuil  de  malade  ou 
Francois  est  assis,  face  an  public.  A  sa 
gauche,  tin  petit  meuble  bas,  servant  a  la 
fois  de  table  et  de  siege.  A  gauche,  au 
premier  plan,  porte  et  lucarne  donnant  sur 
la  cour.  En  scene,  grande  table  carree 
sur  laquelle  Toinette  repasse  du  linge. 
Au  fond,  a  gauche,  haute  ar  moire-buffet; 
au  milieu,  porte  donnant  sur  la  cam- 
pagne;  a  droite,  large  fenetre  a  cintre 
ecrase,  garnie  de  rideaux  de  cotonnade; 
plus  a,  droite,  presque  dans  le  coin  de  la 
chambre,  horloge  a  gaine. 

SCENE  PREMIERE 

Toinette,  Francois 

Toinette  {repassant  et  considerant  Francois 

absorbs) 

Toujours  la  tete  basse, 
A  ruminer  ton  mal  au  coin  du  feu  !... 
Sois  patient,  mon  homme,  un  peu  !... 
Le  mal  vient,  le  mal  passe. 

Franqois 

A  mon  age  il  ne  fait  plus  grace. 
Ah!    quand  on  s'epousa, 
Voila  vingt  ans  de  ga, 
J'etais  encor  dur  a  la  peine 
Malgre  ma  cinquantaine. 
Mais  a,  present,  vieux  et  perclus, 
C'est  bien  fini,  je  n'en  peux  plus. 
Moi,  jadis  si  plein  de  courage, 
Rester  la  fourbu,  c'est  honteux. 


ACT  THE  SECOND 

A  peasant  interior  of  the  most  humble  sort.  At 
the  right  front  a  large  and  deep  hearth  pro- 
vided with  seats.  Near  the  hearth  a  large 
arm-chair  in  which  Francois,  who  is  ill, 
is  seated  facing  the  audience.  At  his  left, 
a  small  low  piece  of  furniture  which  may  be 
used  either  as  a  chair  or  a  table.  At  the 
left  front,  a  door  and  dormer-window  fac- 
ing on  the  court.  Downstage  a  large 
square  table  at  which  Toinette  is  ironing. 
At  the  back  a  high  clothespress  and  cup- 
board; in  the  centre  a  door  opening  on  the 
countryside;  at  the  right  a  broad  window 
with  a  low  arch,  hung  with  calico  curtains; 
more  to  the  right,  almost  in  the  corner  of  the 
room,  a  large  clock. 

SCENE  I 

Toinette,  Francois 

Toinette  (ironing,  and  observing  the  musing 
FRANgois) 

Always  with  drooping  head 

He  thinks  of  his  illness  in  his  chimney  corner! 

Have  a  bit  of  patience,  my  man! 

Evil  comes  and  evil  goes. 

Francois 
But  at  my  age  it  knows  no  mercy. 
Ah,  when  we  married, 
Some  twenty  years  ago, 
I  was  still  inured  to  hardship 
In  spite  of  my  fifty  years; 
But  now,  old  and  broken, 
That's  all  over,  I'm  at  the  end  of  my  tether! 
I,  once  so  full  of  courage, 
Lingering,  foundered — it  is  shameful! 


[23] 


24 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Toinette  (rangeant  le  linge  dans  Varmoire) 
Bah!    notre  Toinet  en  vaut  deux 
Pour  l'ouvrage. 
II  t'y  remplace  aujourd'hui, 
Le  bon  gas,  et  grace  a  lui 
Nous  nous  tirons  d'affaire. 
Toi  qui  nous  donnas  ce  foyer, 
Tu  n'as  plus  besoin  d'y  rien  faire. 
C'est  notre  tour  de  t'y  choyer. 
Tu  nous  y  choyais  naguere. 


Francois  (tres  tendrement) 
Ah  !    notre  cher  fils,  c'est  pour  lui,  vraiment, 
Que  j'ai  le  plus  de  tourment. 

Toinette 
Pour  lui  ?...    Que  veux-tu  dire  ? 

Francois 

II  est  triste,  et  je  n'en  connais  pas  la  raison. 

(Avec  attendrissement.) 

Autrefois,  notre  maison 
Se  fleurissait  de  son  rire  ; 
C'etait  un  soleil  bienfaisant 
Quand  il  ouvrait  la  porte  ; 
Quand  il  rentre  a,  present, 
C'est  du  noir  qu'il  apporte. 

(Toinette  fait  des  gestes  de  denegation.) 

Ne  dis  pas  non  !    Je  sais  bien  que  si. 
II  a  du  chagrin.     Toi,  sa  mere,  aussi. 
Et  de  vous  voir  ainsi 
Tous  deux  lugubre  mine, 
Viola  qui  plus  que  tout  me  mine. 
Pour  le  garder  si  fort,  votre  secret, 
C'est  done  qu'il  est  bien  grave  et  qu'il  m'ache- 
verait  ? 


SCENE  II 

Aline,  Franqois,  Toinette 

(Aline  entre  brusquement  et  se  jette  en  pleurant 
dans  les  bras  de  Toinette.) 


Toinette  (laying  away  her  linen  in  the  cup- 
board) 

Bah!    Our  Toinet  can  do 

Two  men's  work. 

He'll  take  your  place  now,  the  good  lad, 

And,  thanks  to  him, 

We'll  get  clear  of  our  troubles. 

You,  who  made  this  home  for  us, 

Need  no  longer  work  for  it; 

It  is  our  turn  now  to  spoil  you, 

You  who  were  spoiling  us  but  lately. 

FRANgois  (very  tenderly) 

Ah,  our  dear  son,  'tis  on  his  account, 
To  tell  the  truth,  that  I  worry  most. 

Toinette 
On  his  account? — What  do  you  mean? 

Francois 
He  is  sad,  and  I  know  not  why. 

(moved) 

Formerly  the  house 

Resounded  with  his  laughter, 

It  seemed  as  though  a  quick'ning  ray  of  sun- 

light 
Entered  when  he  opened  the  door. 
And  now,  when  he  comes  in, 
He  brings  black  shadows  with  him. 

(Toinette  makes  gestures  of  dissent) 
Do  not  deny  it — I  know  that  it  is  so! 
He  is  worried.     And  so  are  you,  his  mother. 
And  to  see  you  both  thus 
With  mournful  faces, 
Undermines  me  more  than  aught  else. 
If  you  guard  this  secret  of  yours  so  carefully, 
It  must  be  a  very  grave  one,  one  that  will 

finish  me! 


SCENE  II 

Aline,  Francois,  Toinette 

(Aline    enters    suddenly,    and    throws    herself 
weeping  into  Toinette's  arms) 


THE   VAGABOND 


25 


Aline 
Ah  !    ma  bonne  Toinette  !... 

Francois  (se  soulevant  effare) 

Vous,  ici  ! 

La  fille  a  Maitre  Pierre  ! 

A  l'homrae  qui  me  hait 

Depuis  qu'il  n'est  plus  mon  maitre  ! 

Et  c'est  ma  femme  qui  dans  ses  bras  la  caline  ! 

Aline 

Oh  !    pardon  !    mais  je  souffre  tant  ! 
Mon  pere  a  l'instant 
Vient  de  tout  connaitre, 
Et  quand  j'ai  dit  ne  vouloir  etre 
Qu'a  celui  que  j'aimais, 

II  m'a  presque  battue  en   criant  :       «  Non, 
jamais  !  )) 

(Dans  un  sanglot.) 
«  Non,  jamais  »  ! 

FRANgOIS 

Je  dois  rever,  croyant  que  je  devine. 
Vous  aimez  qui  ? 

Aline 
Toinet. 

Franqois  (accable) 

Bonte  divine  ! 

Toinette 

Tu  sais  maintenant  pour  quelle  raison 
Le  deuil  etait  dans  ta  maison. 

Francois 

II  fallait  m'en  instruire 
Sitot  que  tu  l'appris. 

Toinette  (melancoliquement) 

C'est  trop  tard  pour  le  dire 
Quand  les  coeurs  se  sont  pris. 


Aline 
Ah,  my  dear  Toinette! 

Francois  (raising  himself  in  affright) 
You,  here! 

Master  Pierre's  daughter! 
The  man  who  has  hated  me 
Ever  since  he  ceased  to  be  my  master! 
And  my  wife  embraces  her  with  a  caress! — 

Aline 
Forgive  me!    but  I  suffer  so! 
My  father  has  just  chanced 
To  discover  everything; 

And  when  I  told  him  I  only  wished  to  belong 
To  the  one  I  loved, 
He  came  near  beating  me,  crying:  'No,  never!' 

(with  a  sob) 
'No,  never!' 


Francois 

I  must  be  dreaming,  yet  think  I  can  divine- 
Whom  do  you  love? 

Aline 
Toinet! 

Francois  (overcome) 
God's  mercy! 

Toinette 
Now  you  know  the  reason 
Of  all  the  sorrow  in  your  home. 

Franqois 

You  should  have  told  me 

As  soon  as  you  knew  yourself. 

Toinette  (sadly) 
It  was  too  late  to  tell  you, 
When  their  hearts  had  found  each  other. 


26 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Franqois 
Ou  ?   Quand  ? 

TOINETTE 

Pourquoi  chercher,  mon  horn  me  ? 
Quand  on  s'aime,  on  ignore  comme. 

Aline 
Les  bois  ont  des  sentiers  ;    l'eglise  a  des  re- 
coins. 

Toinette  (tendre  et  maternelle) 
Mais  ils  pouvaient  se  joindre,  et  mieux,  ils  se 
sont  joints. 

Aline 
On  avait  plus  de  peine  et  partant  plus  de  fete. 

Toinette  (avec  line  grande  emotion) 
Bref,  quand  le  gas  m'a  dit  la  chose,  elle  etait 
faite. 


•J 


Aline 
Nous   etions    engages   par  les   derniers 
aveux. 

Toinette 
II  ne    me    restait    plus    qu'a    partager 
leurs  voeux. 

Francois 

Croire,  toi,  comme  cette  innocente, 
Que  jamais  Maltre  Pierre  y  consente, 
N'est-ce  pas  fou  ? 


Toinette 
Je  m'en  disais  autant  ; 
Mais  je  suis  mere  et  j'esperais  pourtant  !... 

SCENE  III 

Toinet,  Toinette,  Francois,  Aline 

(Toinet  est  entre  sans  etre  va  pendant  la  fi?i  de 
la  scene  precedente.) 


Franqois 
Where?   When? 

Toinette 

Why  try  to  find  out,  my  man? 

When  we  love,  we  know  not  how  nor  why. 

Aline 

There  are  paths  in  the  woods — corners  in  the 
church — 

Toinette  (with  maternal  tenderness) 
The  less  chance  for  their  meeting,  the  oftener 
they  met. 

Aline 
It  was  all  the  harder,  yet  all  the  greater  joy! 

Toinette  (with  great  emotion) 
In  short,  when  the  boy  told  me  of  it,  it  was 
done. 


pa 

a 

H 

w 

o 
o 

H 


Aline 
We  are  pledged  to  each  other  by  the 
most  sacred  vows. 

Toinette 

There   was   naught  for   me   to   do  but 
share  their  hopes. 


Francois 

Share  this  innocent's  belief,  if  you  will, 
But  that  Master  Pierre  will  ever  consent, 
Is  it  not  a  mad  idea? 

Toinette 

That's  what  I  told  myself, 

But  I  am  a  mother  and  I  hoped  against  hope! 

SCENE  III 

Toinet,  Toinette,  Franqois,  Aline 

(Toinet  has   entered   unperceived  during  the 
close  of  the  preceding  scene) 


THE   VAGABOND 


27 


TOINET 

Ah  !    vous  aviez  tort,  ma  mere,  et  j'en  pleure. 

Apprenez  plutot  ce  que  tout  a  l'heure 

II  vient  de  me  dire  en  nous  insultant. 

Je  rentrais  des  champs.     Je  le  vois,  je  passe. 

(D'une  voix  farouche,  entrecoupee  de  sanglots.) 

«  Ecoute,  Toinet,  fait-il  a  voix  basse, 

Tes  parents  et  toi  vous  etes  des  gueux, 

Si  vous  comptez  qu'Aline 

(Douloureux.) 

soit  tienne. 

(Cruel  et  douloureux.) 
Je  1'aimerais  mieux  morte  qu'avec  eux. 

(Avec  durete.) 
Dis-lui  qu'avec  moi  vite  elle  revienne, 
Sinon,  gare  a  vous  !...     J'ai  votre  secret  !...  » 
Puis,  plus  bas  ancore  et  la  bouche  amere, 
Dans  un  grincement  qui  me  dechirait  : 
((  Dis-leur  bien  ca,  hein. 

(Terrific.)      Surtout  a  ta  mere  !...  » 
Je  n'ai  pas  compris.    J'ai  soif  de  savoir. 

(Toinette  se  prepare  a  parler.) 


Francois  (lui  imposant  silence) 

Tais-toi,  j'ai  seul,  en  somme, 

Le  droit  et  le  devoir 

De  parler  a  cet  homme. 
(^4  Toinet,  lui  dSsignant  la  porte  a  gauche.) 
Va  dans  la  cour,  mon  gas. 
(A  Aline,   en  lui  design  ant  la  porte  du  fond, 

d'une  voix  grondante  de  colere.) 
Vous,  rentrez  de  ce  pas. 
Dites  a  votre  pere 
Que  sous  mon  toit  j'espere 
Sa  visite  aujourd'hui ; 
Ou  que  sinon  chez  lui 

Je  me  ferai  porter  pour  qu'il  me  satisfasse, 
Et  qu'on  s'explique  net,  nous  et  lui,  face  a. 
face  !... 

(Toinet  et  Aline  lui  obeissant  s'en  vont  a,  pas 
lents,  puis  se  retournant  sur  le  seuil.) 


Toinet 
Ah,  you  were  wrong,  Mother,  and  I  weep 
That  I  must  tell  you  what,  this  very  moment, 
He  came  and  told  me,  insulting  us. — 
Coming   from   the   fields,  I   saw   him,  passed 
him  by. 

(Savagely,  his  voice  broken  by  sobs) 
'Listen,  Toinet',  he  said  in  a  low  voice, 
'You  and  your  parents  are  the  merest  beggars, 
And  you  are  planning 

(sorrowfidly) 

To  make  Aline  your  own. 
I'd  sooner  see  her  dead  than  living  with  you. 
(harshly) 

Tell  her  to  come  back  to  me,  and  quickly! 
If  not,  beware ! — I  know  your  secret ! ' — 
Then,  lower  still,  with  bitterness, 
And  grinding  his  teeth  until  I  shuddered : 
'Be  sure  and  tell  them  that,  eh? — 

(ivith  terror) 
Your  mother  in  particular!  ' — 
I  did  not  understand.     What  could  he  mean? 
(Toinette  prepares  to  speak) 


Francois  (silencing  her) 
Be  still.     'Tis  I  alone,  all  said, 
Whose  right  it  is,  and  duty, 
To  speak  to  this  man. 
(To  Toinet,  pointing  to  the  door  at  the  left) 

Go  into  the  yard,  my  boy. 
(To  Aline,  showing  door  at  back,  in  a  voice 
fierce  with  rage) 

You,  go  back  at  once, 

And  tell  your  father 

That  I  await  his  visit 

Beneath  my  roof  to-day; 

Or,  if  he  will  not  come, 

I'll  be  carried  to  him,  to  get  me  satisfaction, 

For  an  explanation,  he  and  I,  face  to  face! 

(Toinet  and  Aline  obediently  go  off  slowly, 
then  turn  at  the  threshold) 


28 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Toinet  (du  seuil) 

Helas  !    nos  pauvres  amours, 
On  va  leur  casser  les  ailes  ! 

Aline  (de  meme) 

Ne  crains  rien  pour  nos  amours, 
Si  nos  coeurs  y  sont  fideles. 

Toinet 
Au  vent  noir  des  mauvais  jours, 
Helas  !...    que  deviendront-elles  ? 

Aline 
Si  nous  nous  aimons  toujours, 
Nul  ne  pourra  rien  contre  elles. 
Apres  l'hiver  les  beaux  jours  ! 

(Avec  emotion.) 

Et  bientot,  a,  tire-d'ailes, 
Nous  aurons  de  gais  retours 
Comme  en  ont  les  hirondelles. 

Aline  et  Toinet  (ensemble) 

Nous  aurons  de  gais  retours 
Comme  en  ont  les  hirondelles. 
(lis  sortent,  elle  par  le  fond,  lux  a  gauche.) 

SCENE  IV 

FRANgOIS,    TOINETTE 

Toinette  (cdlinant  FRANgois) 

La  fievre  est  dans  tes  doigts, 
Mon  pauvre  homme,  regarde  ; 
N'en  fais  pas  plus  que  tu  ne  dois, 
Prends  garde  ! 

Attends  demain,  ce  n'est  pas  long. 
Demain,  plus  gaillard  et  d'aplomb, 
Tu  pourras  le  confondre  ; 
Mais,  aujourd'hui, 
Laisse-moi  seule  aller  vers  lui 
Pour  lui  repondre. 


Toinet  (from  the  threshold) 
Alas,  our  poor  loves! 
Their  wings  are  going  to  be  broken! 

Aline  (the  same) 

Have  no  fear  for  our  loves, 

If  our  hearts  are  but  faithful  to  them. 

Toinet 

When  borne  on  by  an  ill  wind 
Alas,  what  will  become  of  them? 

Aline 

If  we  keep  on  loving  each  other, 

Nothing  can  harm  them. 

After  winter  come  days  of  spring! 

(with  feeling) 
And  then,  with  fluttering  wings, 
They  will  come  gaily  back  to  us 
As  the  swallows  do. 

Aline  and  Toinet  (together) 

They  will  come  gaily  back  to  us 
As  the  swallows  do. 

(Exeunt,  she  at  back,  he  to  left) 


SCENE  IV 
FRANgois,  Toinette 

Toinette  (fondling  FRANgois) 

The  fever's  in  your  hands, 

My  poor  boy,  see  here; 

Do  no  more  than  you  must! 

Take  care  of  yourself! 

Wait  for  to-morrow,  'tis  not  long; 

To-morrow  you'll  feel  better  and  easier: 

Then  you  can  confound  him. 

But  to-day, 

Let  me  go  to  him  alone 

And  answer  him. 


THE   VAGABOND 


29 


SCENE  V 


MaItre   Pierre,   Toinette,    FRANgois 

Maitre  Pierre  (entrant  brusquement) 

Alors,  c'est  vous  qui  m'en  voulez  ? 
Qu'avez-vous  a  dire  ?    Parlez  ! 

Toinette  (humblemenl) 
Maitre  Pierre,  je  vous  en  conjure... 

Maitre  Pierre  (insolemment) 
Conjure  ;    mais,  en  attendant, 
Tiens  ta  langue,  c'est  plus  prudent. 

FRANgois  (calme) 
Pourquoi  ce  ton  d'injure  ?... 

Maitre  Pierre  (violemment) 

Est-ce  avec  des  mots  enjoleurs 
Qu'on  fait  la  chasse  aux  voleurs  ? 

Toinette  et  FRANgois  (indignes) 
Nous,  voleurs  ! 

Maitre  Pierre  (de  plus  en  plus  violent) 
Oui,  de  ma  fille, 
Que  vous  attirez  chez  vous, 
Ann  qu'elle  ait  pour  epoux 
Un  va-nu-pieds  qui  nous  pille. 

(Vociferant.) 

Pas  tant  que  je  vivrai,  bon  Dieu  !... 
Tenez,  jouons  plutot  franc  jeu. 
Moi,  pour  empecher  qu'on  l'enjole 
Je  ferai  tout. 

(A  Toinette,  terrible,  en  insistent.) 
Tu  m'entends  ?    Tout. 
Pour  vous  mater,  vous  et  votre  drole, 
J'irai,  s'il  le  faut,  jusqu'au  bout. 
Reglez  done  votre  conduite 
Sur  mes  desirs  obeis. 


SCENE  V 


Master  Pierre,  Toinette,  FRANgois 

Master  Pierre  (entering  brusquely) 
Well,  'tis  you  has  a  grudge  against  me? 
What  have  you  to  say? — Speak! 

Toinette  (humbly) 
Master  Pierre,  I  implore  you — 

Master  Pierre  (insolently) 
Implore;  but  meanwhile, 
Hold  your  tongue,  'twould  be  more  prudent. 

FRANgois 
Why  this  insulting  tone? 

Master  Pierre  (violently) 

Do  we  hunt  thieves 
With  flattering  words? 

Toinette,  FRANgois  (indignant) 
We,  thieves? 

Master  Pierre  (more  and  more  violent) 

Yes,  stealing  my  daughter! 
You  lure  her  here  to  your  home 
In  order  to  give  her  for  a  husband 
A  beggar  who'll  plunder  us! 

(shouting) 

Not  while  I  live,  by  God! 

Wait  a  moment,  let's  be  honest. 

I'll  do  anything 

To  prevent  his  turning  her  head — 

(To  Toinette,   terribly,   insistently) 
You  understand  me?    Anything! 
To  get  you  under,  you  and  that  rogue  of  yours, 
I  will,  if  need  be,  go  to  the  limit. 
So  order  your  conduct 
According  to  my  wishes — obey! 


30 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


{Farouche,  d'tine  voix  rauque.) 

Et  decampez  tout  de  suite 
Du  pays. 

Francois  (outre,  formidable) 

Assez  !   Assez  !   Prenez  la  porte  ! 
En  voila  trop  que  je  supporte. 
Nous  trait er  en  vaincus  a  genoux! 
Et  vouloir  nous  chasser  de  chez  nous, 
Comme  si  nous  etions  pour  salir  sa  famille, 
Et  comme  si  mon  fils  ne  valait  pas  sa  fille  ! 

Maitre  Pierre  (ironiqne) 

Ah  !  ah  !  ah  !  ah  !   Ton  fils  !... 
Souviens-toi  de  jadis. 

Franqois 

Non  !    non,  de  rien,  d'aucune  histoire. 
Ma  Toinette  a  vecu  de  fagon  meritoire. 
L'enfant  est  un  saint  du  bon  Dieu. 
C'est  mon  gas,  c'est  mon  fils,  c'est  mon  fieu  ! 
Je  1' adore. 

Maitre  Pierre 

Le  secret  qu'il  ignore, 

Si  vous  ne  partez  pas  sans  retard, 

Je  vais,  moi,  le  lui  apprendre, 

Et  qu'on  ne  prend  pas  pour  gendre 

Un  batard. 

Toinette 
Pitie  ! 

Maitre  Pierre 

Non  !   Non  !   Je  le  repete, 
Je  le  crie  a  tue-tete  : 
C'est  un  batard  fcbatard  !    batard  ! 

Franqois  (souleve) 
Ah  !     lache  !     Et  ne  pouvoir,  moi,  debout, 

tete  haute  !... 
Ah  !    si  mon  poing  le  tenait  ! 


(Savagely,   with  a  hoarse  voice) 

And  get  out  of  the  country 
At  once! 

Franqois  (in  terrible  wrath) 
Enough!    Enough!   There's  the  door! 
This  is  too  much  to  ask  me  to  bear. 
He  acts  as  if  we  were  kneeling  at  his  feet! 
And  thinks  to  drive  us  out  of  our  home, 
As  though  we  might  defile  his  family, 
As  if  my  son  were  not  worth  his  daughter! 

Master  Pierre  (icith  irony) 

Ah,  ah,  ah,  ah!   Your  son! — 
Do  you  recall  that  formerly — 

Franqois 

No,  no!   nothing,  no  gossip — 
My  Toinette  has  lived  an  honest  life. 
The  child  is  a  gift  of  the  good  God. 
He's  my  boy,  my  son,  my  image — 
I  adore  him! 

Master  Pierre 

If  you  do  not  at  once  decamp, 

The  secret  that  is  hidden  from  him 

Will  be  revealed  by  me. 

I'll  teach  him  that  people  want  no  bastard 

Sons-in-law! 

Toinette 
Mercy ! 

Master  Pierre 

No!   No!    I  repeat  it, 

I'll  shout  it  at  the  top  of  my  voice: 
He's  a  bastard,  a  bastard,  a  bastard! 

Franqois  (raising  himself) 

Ah,  coward!  And  I  not  able  to  stand,  to  raise 

my  head! 
Ah,  could  I  but  lay  hands  on  him — 


I 


THE   VAGABOND 


31 


(7/  fait  le  geste  d'etrangler  et  avarice  a  pas 
saccades  vers  Maitre  Pierre,  qui  recule 
et  qu'il  prend  a  la  cravate.) 

Je...   Je...    Ah  !... 

(7/  tombe  comme  une  masse  avec  un  grand  cri 
aux  pieds  de  Maitre  Pierre.) 

Toinette  (s'agenouillant  pres  de  lui) 
Moii  Dieu! 

Maitre  Pierre  (se  sauvant) 
Tant  pis,  c'est  sa  faute. 

Toinette    (affolee,   courant   vers   la   porte   de 

gauche) 

Toinet  !...    Au  secours  !    Toinet  !... 

(Rideau) 


(He  clenches  his  hand  as  though  strangling 
some  one  and  advances  haltingly  toward 
Master  Pierre,  who  falls  back.) 

I—  I—  Ah! 

(With  a  loud  crij  he  falls  like  a  stone  at  the  feet 
of  Master  Pierre) 

Toinette  (kneeling  beside  him) 
My  God! 

Master  Pierre  (off) 
So  much  the  worse,  it's  his  own  fault. 

Toinette    (overcome   with   terror,   running   to 

door  at  left) 

Toinet !— Help !— Toinet ! 
(Curtain) 


ACTE  TROISIEME 

Un  carrefour  sur  la  grand 'route.  A  droite,  au 
•premier  plan,  une  auberge  avec  une  en- 
seigne  ;  et  devant  la  parte,  une  table  et  trois 
chaises.  A  gauche,  au  premier  plan, 
faisant  face  a  V auberge,  une  remise  ;  et 
devant  la  parte,  un  billot  de  bois  pour  poser 
la  provende  des  chevaux.  Au  fond,  au 
milieu,  a  I ' entre-croisement  des  deux  routes 
(qui  s'enfoncent  en  diagonale,  Vune  a  droite, 
V autre  a  gauche),  un  poteau  indicateur. 
Du  poteau  a  Vhorizon,  champs  laboures. 
A  Vhorizon,  meme  paysage  qu'au  premier 
acte. 

SCENE  PREMIERE 

Thomas,  Martin,  Catherine 

(Martin  et  Thomas  sont  attables  a  I 'auberge  et 
servis  par  Catherine.) 


Martin 
Vous  n'avez  pas  l'air  gai, 
Ta  femme  ni  toi  !... 

Catherine 
Ah  !    pauvres  gens,  quelle  tristesse  !... 
Francois,  frappe  d'un  coup  de  sang  !... 
Et  leur  gas  a  present, 
Qui  depuis  un  mois,  pour  noyer  sa  peine, 
D'auberge  en  cabaret  se  traine. 
(Dans  le  fond,  a  droite,  arrive,  titubant,  hirsute, 

debraille,  les  yeux  hagards,  le  geste  vague, 

Toinet.) 


ACT  THE  THIRD 

A  crossroads  on  the  highway.  At  the  right, 
front,  a  tavern  with  a  signboard;  before  the 
door  a  table  and  three  seats.  At  the  left 
front,  facing  the  tavern,  a  coach-house;  be- 
fore the  door  a  block  of  wood  on  which  to 
place  the  horses'  fodder.  At  the  back, 
centre,  at  the  crossing  of  the  two  roads 
(which  traverse  each  other  diagonally,  one 
running  to  the  right,  the  other  to  the  left), 
a  signpost.  From  the  signpost  to  the  sky- 
line, fields  in  cultivation.  On  the  skyline 
the  same  landscape  as  in  Act  I. 


SCENE  I 

Thomas,  Martin,  Catherine 

(Martin  and  Thomas  are  seated  at  the  table 
before  the  tavern.  Catherine  is  waiting 
on  them.) 

Martin 
You  do  not  seem  happy, 
You  and  your  wife! 

Catherine 

Ah,  those  unhappy  people!    How  sad! 

Frangois  has  had  a  stroke! 

And  there's  their  boy, 

Who  for  the  past  month,  to  drown  his  sorrow, 

Drags  himself  from  tavern  to  pot-house. 

(At  the  back,  right,  appears  Toinet,  staggering, 
unshaven,  his  dress  disordered,  his  eyes  wild, 
vaguely  gesticulating.) 


[32] 


THE   VAGABOND 


33 


SCENE  II 

Thomas,  Martin,  Catherine,  Toinet 

Thomas  (apercevant  Toinet) 
Tiens,  justement  le  voici. 

Catherine  (avec  pitie,  le  regardant) 
Lui,  jadis  si  beau,  si  brave, 
Le  voir  ainsi,  les  yeux  creux,  ce  teint  de  rave  ! 
Un  vrai  fantome  !...    Pauvre  gas  !... 

(Toinet  fait  un  pas,  se  dirige  vers  la  gauche, 
mais  d'une  marche  indecise,  et  comme 
allant  au  hasard.) 

Eh  !   Toinet,  ou  vas-tu  ?... 

Toinet  (dans  V hebetude,  s'arretant) 

Sais  pas  !... 
La-bas  !...    La-bas  !...    La-bas  !... 
Vers  l'ivresse  noire 
Ou  de  la  memoire 
Les  chagrins  s'en  vont, 
(//  est  arrive  en  scene  a  gauche  pres  de  la  remise 

ouverte.) 
Puisqu'on  y  fait  taire 
Leurs  cris  qu'on  enterre 
Dans  un  trou  sans  fond  !... 

Catherine    (avec    douceur,    lui    montrant    la 

remise) 

Si  vous  dormiez  un  bon  somme  ? 

La  !    C'est  frais,  calme,  obscur, 

Vous  y  seriez  comme  chez  vous,  tout  comme. 

Toinet 

Oh  !    mieux  !    Bien  mieux  !    pour  sur  !... 
Chez  nous,  tout  marche  a  la  malheure. 
On  n'y  dort  plus. 

Le  pere,  jusqu'au  cerveau,  perclus  !... 
La  mere  qui  pleure,  pleure,  pleure  !... 
Et  moi,  lache  !    lache  !    lache  et  mauvais, 
Qui  pour  boire  et  boire  m'en  vais  !... 


SCENE  II 

Thomas,   Martin,   Catherine,   Toinet 

Thomas  (seeing  Toinet) 
Why,   there  he  is  himself. 

Catherine    (pityingly,    looking   at   him) 
He  used  to  be  so  handsome,  so  steadv, 
And  to  see  him  thus,  hollow-eyed,  red-faced, 
A  very  ghost! —  Poor  fellow! 

(Toinet  takes   a  step   forward,   walking    un- 
certainly to  the  left  and  at  random) 

Thomas  (spoken) 
Ho  there!    Toinet,  where  are  you  going? 

Toinet  (in  a  stupor,  stopping) 

Don't  know!... 
Down  below!     Down  below!     Down  below! 
To  black  drunkenness, 
Where  all  sorrows 
Fade  from  recollection, 

(He  has  reached  the  left  front,   near  the  open 
coach-house) 

For  there  they  hush  up 

The  cries  of  those  who're  buried 

In  a  bottomless  pit! 

Catherine    (kindly,    pointing    to    the    coach- 
house) 

Suppose  you  had  a  good  sleep 

There!    It's  cool,  quiet  and  dark  within; 

It  would  be  just  like  being  home. 

Toinet 

Oh,  better,  much  better,  I'm  sure! — 

Everything  is  going  down-hill  at  home. 

I  can  no  longer  sleep  there. 

My  father,  dead  below  the  head! 

My  mother,  weeping,  weeping,  weeping! — 

And  I,  coward,  coward  that  I  am,  and  base, 

Out  to  drink  and  drink  and  drink! 


34 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


(Dechirant  et  douloureux.) 

Oh  !  dormir,  dormir  !...  Rien  qu'une  heure  !... 
Si  je  pouvais  ! 

Catherine  (le  poussant  vers  la  remise) 

Ici,  vous  pourrez.     Laissez-vous  faire. 

(Pousse  par  elle,  il  y  entre  en  sanglotant,  et  elle 
Vy  suit.) 


SCENE  III 

Thomas,  Martin 

Thomas 
Eh  !    Martin,  tu  n'es  plus  joyeux  ?... 

Martin  (pleurant) 

Non,  Thomas,  et  j'en  ai  les  yeux 
Qui  mettent  de  l'eau  dans  mon  verre. 


Martin  !. 


Thomas 


Martin 


Thomas ! 


Thomas 
J'en  fais  autant. 


Thomas  !.. 


Martin 


Thomas 


Martin  ! 


Martin 
Ah  !    quelle  histoire  !. 

Thomas 
Q&  n'est  pas  gai  !... 


(torn  and  anguished) 
Oh,  to  sleep,  to  sleep!     Only  one  hour! 
If  I  only  could! 


Catherine    (urging    him    toward    the    coach- 
house) 

There,  you  shall!   Let  me  show  you. 

Thrust  along  by  her  he  enters,  sobbing,  Cathe  r- 
ine  after  him) 

SCENE  III 

Thomas,  Martin 

Thomas 
Well,  Martin,  you're  no  longer  so  gay? 

Martin  (weeping) 
No,  Thomas,  my  eyes  run  over 
And  the  tears  fall  into  my  glass. 


Martin! 


Thomas! 


Thomas 


Martin 


Thomas 
It's  the  same  with  me. 


Thomas ! 


Martin! 


Martin 


Thomas 


Martin 
Ah,  what  a  story 

Thomas 
It's  not  a  merry  one! 


THE   VAGABOND 


35 


Martin 
C'est  attristant. 

Thomas 
Et  pas  encourageant  a  boire  ! 


Martin 


Thomas  ! 


Thomas 
Martin  ! 

Martin 

Veux-tu  m'en  croire  ? 

Thomas 
Je  veux,  Martin  ! 

Martin 

Eh  bien  !   Thomas, 
Buvons  quand  meme. 

Thomas  {prenant  son  verre) 
Voire  ! 

Martin  {meme  jen) 
Voire  ! 

Thomas  {port ant  son  verre  ct  la  bouche) 
Buvons  !... 

Martin  {meme  jeu) 

Buvons  !... 

{De  plus  en  plus  lugubres,  Us  reposent  leurs 
verres  sur  la  table  sans  avoir  bu.) 


&3 

m 


Martin 
Je  ne  peux  pas  !. 

Thomas 
Je  ne  peux  pas  !. 


Martin 
It's  depressing. 

Thomas 
One  can't  enjoy  one's  drink! 


Thomas! 


Martin 


Thomas 


Martin! 


Martin 
Will  you  take  my  word  for  something? 

Thomas 
I  will,  Martin! 

Thomas 

Well,  Thomas, 
Let's  drink  just  the  same. 

Thomas  {raising  his  glass) 
Your  health! 

Martin  {same) 
Your  health! 

Thomas  {bringing  glass  to  his  lips) 
I  drink  to  you! 

Martin  {same) 
I  drink  to  you! 
(With  ever-increasing  gloom  they  replace  their 
glasses  on  the  table  ivithout  having  drunk) 


S 

m 
a 
o 


Martin 
I  cannot! 

Thomas 


I  cannot! 


36 


LE    CHEMINEAU 


(lis  recommencent  a  se  regarder  d'un  air  lugubre 
en  s'essuyant  les  yeux  avec  leur  manche.) 

SCENE  IV 

Le  Chemineau,   Martin,   Thomas 

(Du  cote  gauche  a  la  cantonade,  arrive,  encore 
lointain,  mais  se  rapprochant  pen  a  pen, 
la  voix  du  Chemineau  qui  chante  en 
marchant  d'un  pas  allegre.) 

Le  Chemineau  (a  la  cantonade,  en  pleine  voix) 

Chantez  mitaine, 
Et  repondez  miton, 
A  la  fontaine 
On  y  boira,  fiston, 
Un  coup  d'pictaine, 
Et  ti  ton  taine, 
Un  coup  d'pictaine, 
Un  coup  d'picton  !... 

Martin  (se  levant) 

Ah  !    quelle  aubaine  ! 
Celui-la  nous  change  de  ton. 

Le  Chemineau  (a  la  cantonade  plus  pres) 

Chantez  mitaine, 

Et  repondez  miton, 

A  la  fontaine 

On  y  boira,  fiston, 

Deux  coups  d'pictaine, 

Et  ti  ton  taine, 

Deux  coups  d'pictaine, 

Deux  coups  d'picton  !... 

Martin  (avec  admiration) 
Matin  !    Quel  vent  dans  sa  poitrine  !... 

Thomas   (vers  la  remise  appelant  d'une  voix 

forte) 

II  doit  avoir  soif  !...    Catherine  !... 


( They  once  more  look  at  each  other  gloomily  and 
wipe  their  eyes  with  their  sleeves) 

SCENE  IV 

The  Vagabond,   Martin,  Thomas 

(From  the  left  wing,  off -stage,  there  is  heard  in 
the  distance,  but  gradually  drawing  nearer, 
the  voice  of  the  Vagabond,  who  sings  as  he 
tramps  merrily  along) 

The  Vagabond 

Sing  hay-dee-day, 
And  hay-dee-dee, 
At  the  fountain 
We  will  drink. 
We'll  drink  a  draught, 
Sing  hay-dee-dee, 
We'll  drink  a  draught 
At  the  fountain's  brink! 

Martin  (rising) 

Ah,  what  a  relief! 

He'll  make  us  change  our  tune. 

The  Vagabond  (off-stage,  nearer) 

Sing  hay-dee-day, 
And  hay-dee-dee, 
At  the  fountain 
We  will  drink. 
We'll  drink  a  draught, 
Sing  hey-dee-dee, 
And  we'll  drink  two 
At  the  fountain's  brink! 


Martin  (admiringly) 
The  rascal!  He  has  a  bellows  in  his  chest! 

Thomas   (turning  to  coach-house  and  calling 

loudly) 

He  must  be  thirsty!     Catherine! 


THE   VAGABOND 


37 


SCENE  V 

Catherine,  Thomas,  Le  Chemineau, 
Martin 

(Catherine  sort  de  la  remise,  quelle  refer  me 
et  accourt.) 

Catherine 
Quoi  ?... 

Thomas  (lui  tendant  le  picket) 
Prends  la  bouteille,  et  ris  en  versant, 
De  toi  bouche  en  fraise  qui  saigne  ; 
C'est  la  meilleure  enseigne  ; 
A  montrer  au  passant. 

(Martin  s'est  rassis  en  face  de  Thomas.  lis 
tendent  leurs  verres  a  Catherine,  qui, 
tournee  de  profit,  tient  la  bouteille  en  fair, 
prete  a  verser  et  le  sourire  aux  levres.) 


Le   Chemineau   (d  la  cantonade,   encor  tout 

pres) 

Chantez  mitaine 
Et  repondez  miton, 
A  la  fontaine 
On  y  boira,  fiston. 
(II  parait  a  gauche,  et  traverse  vivement  le  fond, 
sans  voir  le  groupe,  car  il  se  dirige  vers  le 
poteau  indicateur  des  chemins.) 
Trois  coups  d'pictaine, 
Et  ti  ton  taine, 
Trois  coups  d'pictaine, 
Trois  coups  d'picton  ! 

Catherine  (deque,  avec  mepris) 

Bouh  !      TJn   chemineau  !      J'ai   ri   pour   des 
pommes  !... 

Thomas  (se  levant) 

lis  ont  des  sous  parfois. 

(S'avangant) 

Eh  !...    l'homme  !... 


SCENE  V 

Catherine,  Thomas,  The  Vagabond, 
Martin 

(Catherine  comes  out  of  the  coach-house,  shuts 
the  door,  and  runs  up) 

Catherine 
Well? 

Thomas  (holding  out  the  pitcher  to  her) 

Take  the  pitcher,  and  laugh  when  you  pour, 
With  your  lips  as  red  "as  cherries; 
That's  the  best  signboard 
To  show  the  passer-by. 

(Martin  has  seated  himself  facing  Thomas. 
They  hold  out  their  glasses  to  Catherine, 
who,  her  face  seen  in  profile,  holds  the 
pitcher  high,  ready  to  pour,  a  smile  on  her 
lips.) 

The  Vagabond  (off-stage,  still  nearer) 

Sing  hay-dee-day, 
And  hay-dee-dee, 
At  the  fountain 
We  will  drink. 

(He  appears  at  the  left,  and  quickly  traverses  the 
back,  without  seeing  the  group,  for  he  turns 
his  steps  toward  the  signpost.) 

We'll  drink  a  draught, 
Sing  hay-dee-dee, 
And  we'll  drink  three 
At  the  fountain's  brink! 


Catherine  (put  out,  with  contempt) 
Bah!  A  tramp!  I've  wasted  my  smiles! 

Thomas  (rising) 
They're  not  without  coin,  at  times. 

(going  forward) 
Ho,  there!   You! 


38 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Le  Chemineau  (se  retournant) 
Quoi  !    les  hommes  ? 

Thomas 
On  n'a  pas  soif  ? 

Le  Chemineau 
Si,  mais,  tu  vois, 

(Retournant  ses  poches  vides) 
Plus  de  soif  que  de  sommes. 

Thomas  (renfrogne) 
Ah  ! 

Le  Chemineau  (le  rejoignant) 
Alors  .? 

Thomas  (de  plus  en  plus  renfrogni) 
Alors  ?...   Rien  !...    Voila  !... 
(Martin,  Thomas  et  Catherine  font  semblant 
de  ne  plus  voir  le  Chemineau.) 

Le  Chemineau   (se  rapprochant  de  la  table) 
Combien  la  bouteille,  ce  petit  vin-la  ? 

Catherine 
Dix  sous ! 

Le  Chemineau  (sifflant,  puis  goguenard) 
Pft  !    Et  la  politesse 
Sans  doute,  avec  ? 


Catherine  (meprisante) 
Quelle  ?... 

Le  Chemineau  (gaiement) 

De  se  torcher  le  bee 
A  celui  de  l'hotesse. 

Thomas  (deboui  et  furieux) 
Dis  done,  Chemineau  ! 


The  Vagabond  (turning  round) 
What!    Some  one  here? 

Thomas 
Arn't  you  thirsty? 

The  Vagabond 
Why,  yes,  you  see, 

(turning  out  his  empty  pockets) 
I'm   more  thirsty  than  prosperous. 

Thomas  (with  a  wry  face) 
Ah! 

The  Vagabond  (approaching  him) 
WTell? 

Thomas  (still  more  distantly) 
Well?   Nothing!   That's  all! 
(Martin,  Thomas  and   Catherine  make  a 
pretense  of  no  longer  seeing  The  Vagabond.) 

The  Vagabond    (approaching  the  table) 
That  wine  there,  how  much  a  bottle? 

Catherine 
Ten  sous! 

Thw  Vagabond  (whistling,  then  in  a  banter- 
ing manner) 

Hm!   And  you  throw  in 
The  usual  courtesy,  of  course? 

Catherine  (disdainfully) 
Which  courtesy? 

The  Vagabond  (gaily) 

That  of  crossing  one's  beak 
With  that  of  the  landlady. 

Thomas  (rising  furious) 
See  here,  you  tramp! 


THE   VAGABOND 


39 


Le  Chemineau  (railleur  et  de  haul) 
Quoi  done,  las  d'enfler  ?... 

Thomas 
T'as  le  nez  bien  haut  ! 

Le  Chemineau  {flair ant  vers  le  'picket) 
Pour  mieux  renifler. 

Catherine  (serrant  la  bonteille  conire  elle) 
Pas  mon  vin,  toujours  ! 

Le  Chemineau 

Mais  si,  la  bourgeoise. 

(Tournant  autour  d'elle  pour  prendre  la  bon- 
teille.) 

Lui  comme  toi,  je  parierais 

Que  tous  les  deux  vous  fleurez  frais 

La  fraise  et  la  framboise. 

(II  la  prend  par  la  taille  et  se  met  a  la  faire 
danser  en  chantant,  tandis  que  Thomas 
court  apres  eux,  et  que  Martin  danse,  au 
rythme  de  la  chanson  du  Chemineau.) 

Cueillera,  cueillerai 

La  fraise  et  la  framboise  ! 

Cueillera,  cueillerai, 

Je  les  cueille  a  mon  gre, 

Et  dans  mon  vin  je  les  ecrase, 

Ah  !    cueillera,  je  la  cueille,  cueillerai 

La  fraise  et  la  framboise  ! 

(Catherine  et  Martin  chantent  avec  Le 
Chemineau,  qui  termine  la  ronde  en 
embrassant  Catherine.) 

Martin  (se  tapant  sur  les  cuisses) 

Ah  !    le  bon  drille,  mes  enfants  ! 
En  sa  faveur,  moi,  je  me  fends 
De  la  soupe  qu'il  a  gagnee. 
Oh  !    Catherine,  et  bien  soignee, 
Puisqu'il  a  chasse  mon  chagrin  !... 

Thomas  (d  Catherine  qui  hesite) 
Tu  peux. 


The  Vagabond  (mocking,  superior) 
What's  the  matter,  you  wind-bag? 

Thomas 
You  carry  your  nose  pretty  high! 

The  Vagabond  (sniffing  toward  the  pitcher) 
So  I  can  smell  the  better. 

Catherine  (holding  the  pitcher  close) 
Not  my  wine,  though! 

The  Vagabond 
O  yes,  Mistress! 
(Sidling  around  her  in  order  to  seize  the  pitcher) 
Both  of  you,  I'll  wager, 
Both  of  you  have  a  breath 
Like  cherries  and  strawberries. 
(His  arm  around  her  waist,  he  forces  her  to 
dance,  singing,  ivhile  Thomas  runs  after 
them,  and  Martin  dances  to  the  rhythm 
of  The  Vagabond's  song.) 

I'll  gather  them,  I'll  gather  them, 

Cherry  and  strawberry  too, 

I'll  gather  them,  I'll  gather  them, 

Whenever  I  choose  so  to  do. 

And  into  my  wine  I'll  crush  them, 

Ah,  I'll  gather  them,  I'll  gather  them, 

Cherry  and  strawberry  too. 

(Catherine  and  Martin  sing  with  The 
Vagabond,  who  brings  his  round  to  a  close 
by  kissing  Catherine.) 

Martin  (slapping  his  thigh) 

Ah,  a  merry  lad,  my  gossips! 

I'll  resign  the  soup  he  has  won 

In  his  favor,  myself. 

O  Catherine,  make  it  a  good  one, 

Since  he  has  driven  away  my  sorrow ! 

Thomas   (to   Catherine,   who   hesitates) 
Yes,  you  may. 


40 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


(Catherine  entre  dans  la  maison.) 
Un  payeur  premier  brin. 

Martin  (tendant  la  bouteille  an  Chemineau) 

En  attendant,  bois,  boute-en-train. 
(Le  Chemineau  prend  la  bouteille  et  se  met  a 
boire  a  meme,  lentement,  dans  Vattitude  quit 
avail  au  premier  acte  en  vidant  la  barlet. 
Martin  la  considere  avec  admiration.) 
Bravo,  la  gueule  goguelue  ! 
Ah  !   5a,  voyons  !   J'ai  la  berlue  !... 
Plus  je  le  regarde  !... 
(Reconnaissant  le  Chemineau.) 

Mais  oui  ! 
On  n'en  fait  pas  deux  eomme  lui. 

$(Bas,  a  Thomas.) 

r  Thomas  ! 

j 


Thomas  (meme  jeu) 
Martin  ! 


Martin  (meme  jeu) 

ficoute  ! 

£11  lui  parle  a  Voreille,  en  designant  le  Chemi- 
>        neau  qui  continue  toujours  a  boire  lente- 
ment,   vidant    la    bouteille.     Thomas     le 
considere,  le  reconnait  a  son  tour.     Tous 
deux,  par  gestes,  en  montrent  leur  joie.) 

Le  Chemineau  (retournant  la  bouteille  vide  et 
s'essuyant  les  levres  de  la  main.) 

Bu  !...    Jusqu'  a  la  derniere  goutte. 

Martin  (lui  tapant  amicalement  sur 
Vepaule) 

}is  done  ?    On  s'est  connu,  nous  et  toi,  dans 
les  temps. 

Thomas  (meme  jeu) 
Voila  vingt  ans  passes. 


(Catherine    enters    the   tavern.) 
A  fine  paying  customer. 

Martin  (holding  out  the  pitcher  to  The  Vag- 
abond) 

Meanwhile,  drink!    Down  with  it! 

(The  Vagabond  takes  the  pitcher  and  drinks 
slowly,  in  the  same  pose  as  in  Act  I  when 
emptying  his  bowl.  Martin  regards  him 
with  admiration) 

Well  done,  thirsty-throat! 
Ah!  let's  see!   Oh,  my  poor  eyes! 
The  longer  I  look  at  him — 

(Recognizing  The  Vagabond) 

Of  course! 
There  could  not  be  two  of  his  kind. 

(In  a  low  voice  to  Thomas) 

Thomas ! 

Thomas  (same) 
Martin! 

Martin  (as  before) 

Listen ! 

(He  whispers  in  his  ear,  pointing  to  The  Vag- 
abond, who  continues  slowly  draining 
the  pitcher.  Thomas  studies  him  in  turn 
and  recognizes  him.  Both  show  their 
pleasure  by  gestures.) 

The  Vagabond  (turning  up  the  empty  pitcher, 
and  wiping  his  lips  ivith  his  hand) 

Gone!     To  the  very  last  drop. 

Martin   (patting   his  shoulder  in   a  friendly 

manner) 

See  here!    Didn't  we  use  to  know  each  other, 
long  ago? 

Thomas  (same) 
Some    twenty   years   back? 


THE   VAGABOND 


41 


Le  Chemineau  (reposant  le  picket) 

Diable  !    Vingt  ans  !... 

(S'asseyant  a  la  table.) 

J'en  ai  fait,  depuis  sur  ma  route, 
Des  pas,  des  pas,  encor  des  pas  !... 

Martin 
Mais  tu  nous  reconnais  ? 

Le  Chemineau 
Non  pas. 

Martin 

Voyons,    souviens-toi  !...      C'est   la,    dans   la 

plaine, 
Que  tu  chantais  a  perdre  haleine. 

Le  Chemineau 

Je  ne  me  souviens  pas.     Ma  memoire  est  trop 

pleine, 
J'en  chante  partout,  des  chansons. 

Thomas 
Tu  eoupais  les  bles  avec  nos  garcons. 

Le  Chemineau 

Je   ne   me   souviens   pas.     J'ai   fait   tant   de 
moissons  ! 

Martin 
Mais  si,  souviens-toi  !...    C'etait  la  Toinette... 

Le  Chemineau   (se  levant  brusquement) 
Ah  ga  ?   Je  me  souviens.     C'est  different. 

(Avec  regret  et  poesie.) 
Car  j'ai  connu  par  le  monde,  en  courant, 
Plus  d'une  fille,  ou  blondine  ou  brunette  ; 
Mais  jamais  a  son  gre 
Mon  cceur  a  rencontre 
La  pareille  a  Toinette. 

(Allant  un  peu  vers  le  fond  et  regardant  le  pay- 
sage.) 


The    Vagabond    (setting    down    the    pitcher) 
The  devil!    Twenty  years! — 

(He  sits  down  at  the  table) 
I've  tramped  a  long  ways  since  then, 
Miles  and  miles  and  miles! 

Martin 
But  you  remember  us? 

The  Vagabond 
Not  at  all. 

Martin 

Come,  where's  your  memory!     'Twas  there, 

in  the  fields 
That  you  sang  at  the  top  of  your  lungs. 

The  Vagabond 

I  don't  remember  it.     My  memory's  too  full, 
I  sing  my  songs  everywhere. 


Thomas 
You  were  reaping  the  corn  with  our  boys. 

The  Vagabond 

I    don't    remember.     I've    reaped    so    many 
harvests ! 

Martin 
But  come,  think  a  bit!    There  was  Toinette! 

The  Vagabond  (rising  suddenly) 
Ah,  that?    I  remember.     That's  different. 
(With  regret  and  poetic  feeling) 
In   my   wanderings   through   the   world   I've 

known 
More  than  one  girl,  blond  or  brunette; 
But  my  heart  never  met 
One  so  much  to  its  taste, 
One  equal  to  Toinette. 

(Moving  toward  the  back  a  few  steps  and  look- 
ing out  over  the  countryside) 


42 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Ici  !...    c'etait  ici  ! 

Oui  !...    oui  !    Je  reconnais  l'endroit. 

(Les  regardant.) 

Et  vous  aussi. 
(S'ecartant  d'eux  prets  a  parler,  et  dans  une 
reverie  melancolique.) 

Oh  !    la  claire  image  qui  tremble. 
Au  fond  de  mon  ciel  obscurci  ! 
Doux  reve  auquel  mil  ne  ressemble 
Parmi  tous  mes  reves  perdus  ! 

Martin 
A  quoi  penses-tu  ? 

Thomas 
De  triste,  il  me  semble  ?... 

Le  Chemineau  (tristement) 

Je  pense  aux  bles  coupes,  que  nous  coupions 
ensemble. 

Martin 

Ah  !    dame  !   c'est  lointain  ! 

Thomas 
Vingt-deux  ans  revolus  ! 

Le  Chemineau  (meme  jeu,  s'asseyant) 

Des  bles  comme  ceux-la  je  n'en  couperai  plus. 

(II  a'assied,  le  front  dans  sa  main,  et  s'absorbe 

dans  ses  souvenirs  que  Martin  et  Thomas 

nosent  troubler.     Apres  un  temps,  il  les 

interroge  d'une  voix  hesitante  et  angoissee.) 


Le  Chemineau 
Et   Toinette  ?...  Elle   vit,   j'espere  ? 
(Tons  deux,  de  la  tete,  font  signe  que  oui.     La 
joie   illumine   le   visage   du   Chemineau, 
qui  reprend  ensuite  avec  inquietude.) 

Heureuse  ?   Un  sort  prospere  ? 


Here!   It  was  here! 

Yes,  yes!   I  recognize  the  place. 

(Looking  at  them) 

And  you  as  well. 
(Drawing  away  from  the  two,  about  to  speak, 
and  with  dreamy  melancholy) 

Oh,  that  clear  image  that  trembles 
In  the  depths  of  my  clouded  sky! 

Fair  dream  which  none  other  resembles 
Of  all  my  dreams  lost  and  gone  by! 

Martin 
Of  what  are  you  thinking? 

Thomas 
Something  sad,  I  think. 

The  Vagabond  (sadly) 
I'm  thinking  of  the  sheaves  we  cut  together. 


Martin 
Ah,  well,  that's  long  ago! 

Thomas 
Twenty-two  years  past! 

The  Vagabond  (same,  sealing  himself) 
I'll  never  cut  sheaves  like  those  again. 
(Seated,  his  head  in  his  hands,  he  gives  him- 
self up  to  his  memories,  Martin  and 
Thomas  not  venturing  to  disturb  him. 
After  a  while  he  questions  them  in  a  hesi- 
tant and  agonized  voice.) 

The  Vagabond 
And  Toinette? — She's  living,  I  hope? 
(Both  nod  their  heads  affirjnatively.     Joy  radi- 
ates   in    The    Vagabond's  face,    which 
again  grows  uneasy) 
Is  she  happy?     Has  she  prospered? 


Martin 

C'est  vrai,  tu  ne  sais  rien,  depuis  le  temps  ! 
Mariee  !... 


THE   VAGABOND  43 

Martin 
It's  true  you've  known  nothing  all  this  time! 


Le  Chemineau  (en  un  soupir  douloureux,  puis 
se  reprenant.) 

Ah!    Depuis  longtemps? 

Thomas 

Depuis  le  premier  des  vingt   ans 
Que  loin  d'ici  tu  te  promenes. 

Martin 
£a  s'est  fait  deux  ou  trois  semaines 
Apres  les  bles  coupes  et  toi  parti. 

Le  Chemineau  (courageusement) 
Bien  mariee  ? 

Thomas 
Un  bon  parti. 

Martin 

Francois. 

Le  Chemineau 
Je  me  rappelle  !    Un  pas  jeune,  econome  ; 
L'air  rude,  mais,  au  fond,  brave  homme  ; 
Elle  a  du  pres  de  lui  vivre  heureuse,  en  effet  ; 

(Avec  melancolie.) 
Plus  heureuse  qu'avec...  un  autre  !... 

(Encrgiquement.) 
Elle  a  bien  fait. 

Thomas 
Sans  compter  que  si  Maftre  Pierre... 

Martin 
S'etait  montre  d'humeur  moins  fiere... 

Thomas 
Leur'fils... 


She's  married. 

The  Vagabond    (with   a  grievous  sigh,   then 
co?2trolling  himself) 

Ah!   Long? 

Thomas 

Since  the  first  of  those  twenty  years 

That  you've  been  tramping,  far  from  here. 

Martin 
She  married  two  or  three  weeks 
After  the  harvest,  and  your  leaving. 

The  Vagabond  (courageously) 
Is  she  well  married? 

Thomas 
He  was  a  good  man. 

Martin 
Francois. 

The  Vagabond 

I  remember!    Not  young,  a  saver, 

A  rough  manner  but  at  bottom,  a  good  fellow; 

She  ought  to  have  been  happy  with  him; 

(sadly) 
More  so  than  with  another. 

(energetically) 
She  did  well. 

Thomas 
Were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  if  Master  Pierre — 

Martin 
Had  not  proved  to  be  so  proud — 

Thomas 
Their  son — 


44 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


k 


Le  Chemineau  (suffoque) 
lis  ont  un  fils  ? 

Martin  (vivement) 
Subtil. 

Thomas  {meme  jeu) 
Bon  travailleur. 

Martin  (meme  jeu) 
Gentil. 

Thomas  (meme  jeu) 
Robuste  !... 

Le  Chemineau  (brusquement) 
Quel  age  a-t-il  ? 

Martin 

Je  ne  sais  trop  au  juste. 
Vingt  et  un  ans,  je  crois. 

Thomas 
Du  tout,  dans  les  vingt-trois. 

Martin 
Vingt-deux,  pas  davantage  ! 

Le   Chemineau    (debout,    trouble   au   dernier 

point) 

Voyons  !     je  suis  fou  !     Cet  enfant...      Cet 

age  !... 
Mais  alors  ?...   Quelle  idee,  oh  !   non  !   non  !... 

Et  pourtant  !... 

Martin 
A  quoi  penses-tu  done  ? 

Thomas 
D'encor  plus  attristant  ? 


The  Vagabond  (choking) 
They  have  a  son? 

Martin  (quickly) 
A  clever  chap. 

Thomas  (same) 
A  good  worker. 

Martin  (as  before) 
A  likable  fellow. 

Thomas  (as  before) 
Strong — 

The  Vagabond  (brusquely) 
How  old  is  he? 

Martin 
I  don't  know  exactly. 
About    twenty-one,    I    think. 

Thomas 
Not  at  all,  he  is  in  his  twenty- third  year. 

Martin 
Twenty-two,  no  more! 

The  Vagabond  (rising,  moved  in  the  highest 

degree) 

Let  me  see!  I'm  insane!  That  boy — that  age! 
But  then? — What  an  idea,  oh  no,  no! — And 
yet!— 


Martin 
What  are  you  thinking  about? 

Thomas 
Something  still  sadder? 


THE   VAGABOND 


45 


Le  Chemineau  (avec  une  lyrique  amertume) 

Je  pense  aux  bles  coupes  qui  ne  sont  pas  les 

notres 
Et   dont   les   epis    murs   font   pain   pour   les 

autres. 

SCENE  VI 

Les  Memes,  Catherine 

Catherine  (sortant  de  la  maison) 
C'est  pret. 

Le  Chemineau  (a  Thomas  et  Martin) 
Dites-moi,  ce  gas  ?... 

Thomas  (le  poussant  vers  la  maison) 
On  te  dira  tout,  a  table... 

Martin 
Devant  le  vin  delectable... 

Thomas 
Et  la  soupe  qui  n'attend  pas. 

Martin   (poussant  Le   Chemineau   da7is   la 

maison) 

A  table! 

Thomas  (mime  jeu) 
A  table,  a  table! 

Martin  et  Thomas 
A  table! 

SCENE  VII 

Catherine     (seule.     Elle    va    entr'ouvrir    la 
porte  de  la  remise  oil  elle  regarde  un  instant) 

II  dort  toujours,  Dieu  merci! 

Mais  sombre!  Et  la  bouche  amere!... 


The  Vagabond  (with  lyric  bitterness) 

I  think  of  garnered  sheaves  that  are  not  our 

own, 
And  whose  ripened  grain  is  the  bread  of  others. 


SCENE  VI 

The  Same,  Catherine 

Catherine  (coming  out  of  the  house) 
It's  ready. 

The  Vagabond  (to  Thomas  and  Martin) 
Tell  me,  this  boy — ? 

Thomas  (pushing  him  toward  house) 
We'll  tell  you  everything  at  the  table. 

Martin 
Over  some  of  this  delectable  wine. 

Thomas 
The  soup  will  not  keep  hot. 

Martin  (pushing  The  Vagabond  into  house) 
Come  and  eat! 


Thomas  (same) 
Come  and  eat,  eat! 

Martin  and  Thomas 
Come  and  eat! 

SCENE  VII 

Catherine  (alone) 

(She   opens   the   door   of  the  coach-house   and 
glances  in) 

He's  still  sleeping,  praise  God! 
But  how  gloomy  his  face!     How  bitter  his 
mouth ! 


46 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


(Revenant  en  scene) 

Ah!   pour  sa  mere, 
Que  de  souci! 


SCENE  VIII 

Catherine,  Toinette 

Toinette  (d  la  cantonade,  au  fond,  d  droite, 
d'une  voix  lointaine) 

Toinet! 


Catherine    (ne   sachant   pas   si   elle   a   bien 

entendu) 

Je  fais  erreur,  sans  doute  ! 


Toinette    (merne  jeu   que   plus  haul,   moins 

loin) 

Toinet! 


Catherine  (allant  an  fond  et  regardant  vers 

la  droite) 

Mais,  si!... 

Oui,  la-bas,  sur  la  route.     Cest  elle!... 
{Appelant  a  voix  forte  vers  le  fond,  a  droite.) 

Ici!...  Venez  !  II  est  ici. 
(Arrive  en  courant,  Toinette,  essouflee,  nu- 
tete  et  les  cheveux  derouUs.  Catherine 
la  regoit  dans  ses  bras.  Toinette  se 
laisse  tomber  assise  sur  la  chaise,  avec 
accablement.) 

Reposez-vous  la,  ma  bonne  Toinette. 


Toinette  (se  recoiffant,  confuse) 
J'ai  l'air  d'une  folle,  a  courir  ainsi, 


(returning) 


Ah,  what  a  cross 
For  his  mother! 


SCENE  VIII 

Catherine,  Toinette 

(Toinette,   off-stage,   back,   to   the  right,   her 
voice  heard  in  the  distance) 

Toinet! 


Catherine  (unwilling  to  believe  her  ears) 
I  must  be  mistaken! 


Toinette  (as  before,  nearer) 
Toinet! 


Catherine    (going  upstage   and  looking   to- 
ward the  right) 

Tis  she!— 

Yes,  down  yonder,  on  the  road.     'Tis  she ! 

(Calling  out  loudly,  upstage,  toward  the  right) 

Here! 

Here! — Come!     He  is  here. 
(Toinette  comes  running  up,  out  of  breath, 
bare-headed,    her   hair   undone.      Cathe- 
rine takes  her  into  her  arms.     Toinette 
sinks  into  a  chair,  overcome.) 

Rest  there,  my  dear  Toinette! 


Toinette  (confused,  replacing  her  hat) 
I  know  I  must  look  like  a  madwoman,  run- 
ning so, 


THE   VAGABOND 


47 


Les  cheveux  au  vent,  le  front  sans  cornette. 
Mais,  que  voulez-vous,  c'est  plus  fort  que  moi. 
Quand  la  nuit  se  passe  apres  la  journee, 
J'ai  le  cceur  qui  saute,  et  l'ame  etournee, 
Et  je  pars,  je  cours,  en  le  reclamant, 

(D'une  voix  coaverte  de  larmes  et  de  sanglots.) 

Sans  voir  ou  je  vais,  ni  savoir  comment. 

Catherine  (avec  douceur) 

Ne  soyez  plus  inquiete  ; 

II  dort  la!    Calme.     Rentre. 

(La  conduisant  vers  la  remise.) 

Toinette  (apres  avoir  regards  dans  la  remise) 

Helas!    par  terre!    Vautre, 

Lui,  mon  gas,  comme  une  bete. 

Ah!    n'est-ce  pas  affreux, 

Une  honte  pareille  ? 
(Resistant  a  Catherine  qui   vent   Vemmener 
vers  la  maison.) 

J'attendrai  cependant  pres  de  lui  qu'il  s'eveille. 
Le  malheureux  ! 

C'est  mon  fils,  voyez-vous,  quand  meme  ; 
Mon  petit,  que  j'aime  et  qui  m'aime. 

(Elle  entre  dans  la  remise,  dont  Catherine 
referme  le  porte.) 

SCENE  IX 

Catherine  (seule,  tristement) 

Et  dire  qu'on  n'y  peut  rien!... 
Attendrir  Mattre  Pierre, 
Ce  coeur  de  pierre... 
Par  quel  moyen  ? 

SCENE  X 

Thomas,  Catherine,  Martin,  le 
Chemineau 

(Les  trois  homines  sortent  de  la  maison,  d'abord 
Thomas  et  Martin  qui  se  dirigent  vers 
le  fond  a  droite,  puis  le  Chemineau  qui 
vient  s'asseoir,  Voir  sombre,  sur  le  billot.) 


My  hair  flying,  bare-headed. 

But  what  am  I  to  do — I  cannot  help  it. 

When  night  has  followed  day 

My  heart  begins  to  throb,  and  my  soul's  dizzy, 

And  I'm  off,  running  and  calling  him; 

(with  a  voice  broken  by  tears  and  sobs) 

I  don't  know  where  I'm  going,  nor  how. 

Catherine  (kindly) 

Do  not  worry  any  more; 

He's  sleeping  there;    safe  and  sound. 

(Leading  her  to  the  coach-house) 

Toinette  (after  having  glanced  inside) 

Alas,  on  the  ground!    Full-length, 
He  my  boy,  like  a  beast. 
Ah,  is  it  not  terrible 
To  suffer  such  shame? 
(Resisting  Catherine's  efforts  to  lead  her  to  the 

house) 
But  nevertheless,  I'll  watch  by  him  till  he 

wakes, 
Poor  wretched  boy! 
After  all,  he's  my  son,  you  see, 
My  little  one,  whom  I  love,  and  who  loves  me. 
(She  enters  the  coach-house,  whose  door  is  closed 
by  Catherine) 

SCENE  IX 

Catherine  (alone,  sadly) 
And  to  think  that  nothing  can  be  done! 
Soften  the  heart  of  Master  Pierre, 
That  heart  of  stone — 
How  could  it  be  done? 

SCENE  X 

Thomas,  Catherine,  Martin,  The 
Vagabond 

(The  three  men  come  out  of  tlie  house,  first 
Thomas  and  Martin,  who  move  upstage 
to  the  right;  then  The  Vagabond,  tvho 
seats  himself  gloomily  on  the  wooden  block.) 


48 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Thomas 

Femme,  on  s'en  va,  nous  deux. 

(Montrant  le  Chemineau.) 

Lui,  reste, 

Le  temps  que  Toinet  acheve  sa  sieste. 

Catherine 
Pourquoi? 

Martin 
Pour  lui  parler. 

Thomas 
C'est  promis. 

Martin  (s'en  allant.) 

Au  revoir! 

(Thomas  et  Martin  sortent  par  le  fond  a 
droite.) 

Thomas 
Au  revoir  ! 

Le  Chemineau 
A  tantot,  les  amis  !... 

SCENE  XI 

Catherine,  Le  Chemineau 

(Pendant  toute  la  scene  suivante,  le  Chemineau, 
assis,  reste  pensif,  absorbe,  et  meme  quand 
il  repond  semble  reflechir  a  autre  chose.) 


Catherine 
Tu  connais  done  Francois? 

Le  Chemineau 
Sans  doute. 


Thomas 
Wife,  we  two  are  going  off. 
(Pointing  to  The  Vagabond) 
He'll  stay 
Till  Toinet  has  had  out  his  sleep. 

Catherine 
Why? 

Martin 
To  talk  to  him. 

Thomas 
It's  a  promise. 

Martin  (going  off) 

See  you  again  soon! 

(Thomas,    and   Martin    off   up-stage   to   the 
right) 

Thomas 
See  you  again! 

The  Vagabond 
Good-bye,  friends! 

SCENE  XI 

Catherine,  The  Vagabond 

(During  the  whole  of  the  following  scene,  The 
Vagabond  remains  seated,  pensive,  ab- 
sorbed, and,  even  when  replying,  as  though 
his  mind  were  busy  with  other  things) 

Catherine 
Then  you  know  Francois? 

The  Vagabond 
Of  course. 


THE   VAGABOND 


49 


Catherine 
Et  Mattre  Pierre  ? 

Le  Chemineau 

Aussi  ! 

(i7  Vinterrompt  du  geste   au  moment  oil  elle 
s'apprete   a   Vinterroger   de   nouveau) 

Je  sais  tout...   Alors  ici, 
Maitre  Pierre,  on  le  redoute? 

Catherine 
Oh!  oui...     Oui!...     Mauvais  tout  plein! 

Le  Chemineau  (ironique) 
II  n'est  pourtant  pas  malin. 

Catherine 
Et  toi,  tu  l'es? 

Le  Chemineau 
Je  suppose. 

Catherine  (avec  vivacite) 

Eh  !    bien,  trouve  done  quelque  chose 
Pour  tirer  Toinet  du  tracas. 

Le  Chemineau 
Peut-etre!...    Qa,  depend.    Quand  j'aurai  vu  le 


gas.. 


Catherine 
Si  tu  voyais  sa  mere  aussi  ?... 

Le  Chemineau  (tressaillant  et  vivement) 
Non,  je  prefere 
Ne  pas  la  voir. 

Catherine  (s'approchant) 
Pourquoi  ? 

Le  Chemineau  (se  detournant,  sombre) 
C'est  mon  affaire. 


Catherine 
And  Master  Pierre? 

The  Vagabond 

I  know  him,  too! 

(He  interrupts  her  with  a  gesture  as  she  is  about 
to  renew  her  questions.) 

I  know  everything. — Here,  it  seems, 
Every  one's  afraid  of  Master  Pierre? 

Catherine 
O  yes,  yes!     He's  full  of  ill-will! 

The  Vagabond  (ironically) 
And  yet  he  is  not  clever. 

Catherine 
Well,  are  you? 

The  Vagabond 
I  suppose  so. 

Catherine  (eagerly) 
Well,  then,  find  some  way 
Of  getting  Toinet  out  of  trouble. 

The  Vagabond 

Perhaps!     That  depends.     After  I've  seen  the 
boy. 

Catherine 
And  supposing  you  saw  his  mother,  too? 

The  Vagabond  (quickly,  shivering) 

No,  I  prefer 
Not  to  see  her. 

Catherine  (drawing  close  to  him) 
Why? 

The  Vagabond  (turning  away,  sombrely) 
That's  my  business. 


50 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Catherine  (eloignee  de  lui  et  a  part) 
Tiens  !  tiens  !  Eh  bien  !  tu  la  verras.  Mais  si  ! 
£a  rend  parfois  des  services, 
Ces  gueux-la,  petris  de  vices, 
Sorciers  sentant  le  roussi. 

Si  Maitre  Pierre  avait  aux  jambes  celui-ci  !... 
Ma  foi  !...    risquons  le  coup,  n'importe  ! 
(Venant  f rapper  sur  Vepaule  du  Chemineau.) 

Chemineau  !    La,  derriere  cette  porte, 
Dort  Toinet. 

(Geste  effare  du  Chemineau.) 

Parle-lui,  tu  peux. 
Je  vais,  moi,  dans  ma  grange. 
Vous  causerez  seuls  tous  les  deux, 
Sans  que  nul  vous  derange. 
(Le  Chemineau  est  reste  fige  dans  son  attitude 

d'effarement,  les  regards  braques  fixement 

vers  la  porte  de  la  remise.) 
(Catherine  s'en  va  lentement  par  la  gauche, 

derriere  la  maison,  en  montrant  toujours 

du  geste  la  porte  de  la  remise.) 


SCENE  XII 

Le  Chemineau  (seul) 

(Apres  un  temps,  Le  Chemineau  se  dirige 
vers  la  porte  de  la  remise,  d'un  pas  lent 
et  saccade,  comme  un  somnambule.  La 
main  sur  le  loquet,  au  moment  d'entrer,  il 
recule.) 

Voila  que  j'ai  peur  de  le  voir. 

Si  c'etait  mon  enfant  !...    Savoir  ! 

Mon  enfant  !    A  moi  !    Non  !    mensonge  ! 

A  moi,  le  vagabond  joyeux  ! 

Alors,  d'ou  vient,  lorsque  j'y  songe, 

Ce  not  de  larmes  dans  mes  veux  ?... 

Oh  !    quel  reve.     Un  enfant  !    Un  etre 

En  qui  Ton  sent  qu'on  va  renaitre  ! 

Oui  !   qa  doit  parfumer  le  cceur  ! 


Catherine  (at  some  distance  from  him,  aside) 

So,  so!     Well!     you  shall  see  her — indeed  you 

shall! 
After  all,  they  are  sometimes  of  use, 
These  beggars,  steeped  in  vice, 
Warlocks  with  a  taint  of  hell-fire! 
If  Master  Pierre  has  this  fellow  on  his  track ! — 
My  word! — I'll  risk  it,  at  any  rate! 

(Coming  up  to  The  Vagabond  and  clapping 
him  on  the  shoulder) 

You,   Tramp!     There,   behind  yonder  door, 
Toinet  is  sleeping. 

(The  Vagabond  makes  a  gesture  of  terror) 

You  may  speak  to  him. 
I'm  going  into  the  barn. 
You  two  can  talk  alone 
Without  being  disturbed. 

(The  Vagabond  still  holds  his  terror-striclcen 
attitude,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  door  of  the 
coach-house.  Catherine  goes  off  slowly  to 
left,  behind  the  house,  still  pointing  at  the 
door  of  the  coach-house.) 


SCENE  XII 

The  Vagabond  (alone) 

* 

(After  a  time  The  Vagabond  moves  with  a 
slow  and  measured  tread  to  the  door  of  the 
coach-house,  as  though  walking  in  his 
sleep.  With  his  hand  on  the  latch  and 
about  to  enter,  he  starts  back.) 

And  so  I  am  afraid  to  see  him! — ■ 

If  he  were  my  child! — To  know  it! 

My  child.     My  own!     No,  'tis  a  falsehood! 

Mine,  the  merry  vagabond's! 

Then  how  comes  it  that  the  thought 

Makes  my  eyes  flood  with  tears? 

Ah,  what  a  dream.     A  child!     A  being 

In  whom  one  feels  himself  reborn! 

Yes,  'tis  balm  for  the  heart! 


THE   VAGABOND 


51 


(S'arrachant  a  ce  reve,  et  revenant  vers  la  table.) 

Allons,  vieux  fou,  bois  la  rancoeur 
De  tes  chimeres  delirantes  !... 

(Avec  un  desespoir  lyrique.) 

Les   nids   ne  sont   pas  faits   pour  les   betes 

errantes. 
Quand  meme  ce  serait  ton  gas, 
£tre  un  pere,  tu  ne  peux  pas  ! 
(Prenant  son  chapeau  et  son  baton,  il  va  jusqu'au 

poteau  ou  il   ramasse  son  baluchon  quil 

jette  sur  son  epaule.) 

Va,  suis  ton  destin  !    Chemineau,  chemine  ! 

(II  fait  quelques  pas  vers  la  droite  au  fond,  puis 
jette  par  terre  son  baluchon,  son  baton  et 
revient  en  scene  avec  energie.) 

Non  !  non  !  Tu  n'es  qu'une  vermine 

De  vouloir  fuir...  Tu  dois  le  voir. 

Enfin,  tu  sais  ton  devoir, 

Et,  si  fort  qu'il  te  tenaille, 

Tu  vas  le  remplir,  cette  fois,  canaille  ! 

(Se  prenant  a,  deux  poings  par  le  collet  et  comme 

s'il  se  trainait  lui-meme  de  force  vers  la 

porte  de  la  remise.) 


SCENE  XIII 
Le  Chemineau,  Toinette 

Le  Chemineau  (ouvrant  brusquement  la 

remise) 

Toinet  ! 

(//  recule  effare.) 
Elle  ! 
(Toinette  apparaxt,  de  dos,  regardant  vers  le 
fond  de  la  remise,  puis  en  refermant  la 
porte.) 

Toinette  (se  retournant,  stupefaite) 
Toi  ! 
(Elle  s'ecroule  sur  le  billot  de  bois.) 
Toi  !  D'ou  sort  ce  revenant  ?  Pourquoi  ? 
Pour  quel  nouveau  martyre, 


(Tearing  himself  away  from  his  reveries,  and 
returning  to  the  table) 

Go  to,  old  fool,  drink  in  the  rancor 
Of  your  delirious  fancies! 

(With  lyric  despair) 

Nests  are  not  built  for  wandering  beasts. — 
Even  though  he  were  your  boy, 
You  are  not  fit  to  be  his  father! 

(Talcing  his  hat  and  stick,  he  goes  as  far  as  the 
signpost,  where  he  picks  up  his  bundle  and 
slings  it  over  his  shoulder) 

Go,  follow  your  fate!  Tramp,  keep  on  tramp- 
ing! 

(He  takes  a  few  steps  to  the  right,  back,  then 
throws  down  his  bundle  and  stick  and  walks 
back  resolutely) 

No,  no!     None  but  vermin 

Would  wish  to  run  away. — You  must  see  him! 

In  a  word,  you  know  your  duty! 

And,  no  matter  how  it  distress  you, 

This  time  you'll  do  it,  scoundrel! 

(He  grasps  his  collar  with  both  hands,  and  acts 
as  though  he  were  forcibly  dragging  him- 
self to  the  door  of  the  coach-house.) 

SCENE  XIII 
The  Vagabond,  Toinette 

The  Vagabond  (brusquely  opening  the  door) 

Toinet! 
(He  falls  back,  frightened) 
She! 
(Toinette  comes  out,  her  back  turned  to  him, 
looking  into  the  back  of  the  coach-house, 
then  shutting  the  door.) 


Toinette  (turning  round,  stupefied) 
You! 
(She  sinks  down  on  the  block  of  wood) 
You!     Whence  comes  this  ghost?     And  why? 
To  inflict  some  new  martyrdom 


52 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Apres  tout  le  mal  qu'il  m'a  fait  ? 
Parle  !  Tu  n'as  done  rien  a  dire  ? 


Le  Chemineau  (humble,  puis  brave) 

Rien,  Toinette,  en  effet, 

Sinon,  que  ce  pauvre  etre 

T'a  fait  du  mal  sans  le  savoir, 

Mais  pour  le  reparer,  veut  te  promettre 

De  remplir  son  devoir. 

Toinette  (desesperement) 

Va  !  Le  mal  est  irreparable  ! 

Ah  !  si  tu  connaissais  notre  sort  miserable  ! 

Le  Chemineau  (simplement) 

Je  le  connais.     On  me  l'a  raconte. 
Je  passais;     Je  suis  reste. 

Toinette  (toute  attendrie) 

Ah  !  pour  ce  mot  si  brave  et  l'espoir  qu'il 

me  donne, 
Mon  Chemineau,  je  te  pardonne. 
T'en  ai-je,  helas  !  jamais  voulu  ? 
Meme,  au  plus  noir  de  ma  detresse, 
Je  me  disais  avec  tendresse  : 
Quand  l'oiseau  se  sent  pris  a  la  glu, 
Effare,  l'ceil  hagard,  l'aile  folle, 
Au  hasard,  brusquement,  il  s'envole 
Vers  le  ciel  grand  ouvert  devant  lui  ; 
C'est  ainsi  qu'oiseau  libre  et  sauvage, 
S'affolant  a  l'horreur  d'etre  en  cage, 
Mon  aime  loin  de  moi  s'est  enf  ui. 
Ah  !  pour  t'excuser  de  la  sorte, 
Avec  quelle  foi  douce  et  forte 
Mon  cceur  au  tien  s'etait  donne  ! 
Si  forte,  qu'ayant  pardonne, 
Tout  de  meme  j'en  serais  morte 
Si  notre  fils  n'etait  pas  ne  ! 

Le  Chemineau  (suffoquant,  le  regard  vers  la 

remise) 
Notre...  Mon  fils  !... 


After  all  the  harm  he  has  done  me? 
Speak!     Have  you  nothing  to  say? 

The  Vagabond  (humbly,  then  with  courage) 
Nothing,  Toinette,  nothing, 
Save  that  this  poor  soul 
Has  done  you  harm  unknowing, 
And  to  undo  it,  promises  you 
To  do  his  duty. 

Toinette  (desperately) 
Go!     The  harm  can  never  be  undone! 
Ah,  if  you  knew  our  wretched  lot! 

The  Vagabond  (simply) 

I  know  it.     They  told  me  of  it. 

I  was  going  by.     But  I  have  stayed. 

Toinette  (altogether  softened) 

Ah,  because  of  that  good  word,  and  the  hope 

it  offers, 
My  Vagabond,  I  forgive  you. 
And  have  I  ever,  alas,  blamed  you? 
Even  in  the  darkest  hour  of  my  distress 
I  told  myself,  tenderly: 
When  the  bird  feels  himself  snared, 
Frightened,  wild-eyed,  wings  madly  beating, 
He  takes  flight  suddenly,  at  random, 
Toward  the  sky  opening  wide  before  him. 
Thus,  like  a  bird  of  the  wild, 
Lost  in  his  terror  of  the  cage, 
My  love  took  flight  far  away  from  me. 
Ah,  to  be  able  thus  to  excuse  you, 
With  what  a  strong  and  tender  faith 
My  heart  must  have  given  itself  to  yours! 
A  faith  so  strong,  that  though  having  forgiven, 
I  would  have  died,  notwithstanding, 
Had  not  our  son  been  born! 


The  Vagabond  (choking,  glancing  toward  the 
coach-house) 

Our — my  son! 


THE   VAGABOND 


53 


TOINETTE 

II  te  ressemble. 
Tu  verras. 

Le  Chemineau  (avec  passion) 

Tout  de  suite  !  Ensemble. 

(Sur  un  geste  suppliant  de  Toinette   qui  le 

retient.) 

Oh!  ne  crains  rien  !...  Pas  un  mot  qui  pourrait 

Lui  reveler  notre  secret  ! 

Mais  le  voir!  Le  voir  au  plus  vite  ! 

Rallumer  la  joie  en  ses  yeux  ! 

Qa,  je  le  puis;  ca,  je  le  veux. 

Moi,  le  vieux  boute-entrain  qu'on  invite, 

Pour  derider  les  fronts  soucieux, 

Si  mon  metier  est  d'etre  joyeux, 

C'est  bien  le  moins,  vingt  dieux  ! 

Que  mon  gas  en  profite. 

(7/  court  a  la  porte  de  la  remise,  Vouvre,  et  a 
partir  de  ce  moment  jusqiialajin  deVaete 
s' 'exalte  de  plus  en  plus  d'un  mouvement 
fievreux,  avec  une  joie  forcee,  des  sanglots 
Stouffes  par  du  rire  et  -comme  s'il  voulait 
router  Toinet,  Toinette  et  lui-meme 
dans  un  tourbillon.) 

Ohe  !  Toinet  !  ohe  !...  du  gas  ! 

Quand  finira  ton  somme  ? 

Reveille-toi...  N'entends-tu  pas 

Qu'on  te  sonne  le  branle-bas  ? 

SCENE  XIV 

Toinet,  Le  Chemineau,  Toinette 

Toinet  (sortant  de  la  remise,  a  sa  mere) 
Quel  est  cet  liomme? 


Le  Chemineau  (avec  une  emotion  intense) 
Un  qui  vient  de  la-bas  !... 
Un  ami  d'avant  ta  naissance. 

(Dans  les  sanglots  et  les  rires.) 

Done,  en  pays  de  connaissance  ! 
Embrassons-nous  !... 


Toinette 
He  looks  like  you. 
You'll  see. 

The  Vagabond  (passionately) 

At  once!     Together. 

(In  response  to  a  suppliant  gesture  of  Toinette, 
who  holds  him  back) 

0,  do  not  fear!     Not  a  word  that  might 
Reveal  our  secret  to  him! 

But  to  see  him!     To  see  him  at  once! 
To  rekindle  the  light  of  joy  in  his  eyes! 
That  I  can  do!     That  I  must  do. 

1,  the  old  singing   bird,  who's  invited 
To  smooth  the  wrinkles  on  anxious  brows. 
If  making  folks  happy  is  my  trade, 

The  least  I  can  do,  by  heaven, 

Is  to  work  at  it  for  my  son's  benefit. 

(He  runs  to  the  door  of  the  coach-house,  opens 
it,  and  thenceforward  to  the  end  of  the  act 
is  carried  away  more  and  more  by  a 
feverish  activity  and  forced  joyousness, 
with  sobs  stifled  by  bursts  of  laughter; 
as  though  he  would  catch  up  Toinet, 
Toinette  and  himself  in  a  whirlwind.) 

Ho  there!     Toinet!     Ho  there,  my  boy! 
When  will  you  give  over  sleeping? 
Wake  up!     Don't  you  hear 
Them  ringing  the  bells? 

SCENE  XIV 

Toinet,  The  Vagabond,  Toinette 

Toinet  (coming  out  of  the  coach-house,  to  his 

mother) 

Who  is  this  man? 

The  Vagabond  (with  intense  feeling) 
One  who  comes  from  down  yonder! — 
A  friend  before  you  were  born. 

(With  sobs  and  laughter) 

And  now,  since  we  know  each  other! 
To  my  arms! 


54 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


(Meme  jeu  de  Toinet.  Le  Chemineau  em- 
brasse  Toinet  dans  une  longue  etreinte  ou 
il  etouffe  des  sanglots  de  joie.) 

Le   Chemineau    (meme   pantomime   pour   la 
seconde  etreinte) 
Encore  un  peu. 
(Se  reculant  pour  admirer  Toinet.) 
Ah!  quel  beau  fieu  ! 
Mais  pourquoi  cet  air  Nicodeme? 
Je  le  sais,  ton  Aline  t'aime. 
Et  toi,  ce  que  tu  ne  sais  pas, 
C'est  que  j'espere, 
Son  mauvais  pere, 
Le  inettre  au  pas. 
(Toinet  rit  d'un  large  rire  Spanoui.) 

Q&  te  fait  rire? 
Tantirelire! 
Puisque  tu  ris 
La  chose  est  faite. 
Allons,  en  fete, 
Les  yeux  fleuris, 
Toinet,  Toinette, 
Le  cceur  content, 
Faites  comme 
Le  bonhomme 
Qui  niene  tout  en  chantant. 
(II  Ventraine  en  gambillant  et  chantant  parmi 
les  larmes,  suivi  de  Toinette  extasiee.) 

Le  Chemineau  (riant  et  pleurant  a  la  fin) 
Chantez  mitaine, 
Et  repondez  miton, 
A  la  fontaine, 
On  y  boira,  fiston, 
Un  coup  d'pictaine, 
Et  ti  ton  taine, 
Un  coup  d'pictaine, 
Un  coup  d'picton  ! 

(Rideau) 


(Same  business  on  part  of  Toinet.  The 
Vagabond  holds  Toinet  clasped  in  a 
long  embrace,  stifling  his  sobs  of  joy.) 

The    Vagabond     (same    pantomime    during 
second  embrace) 
Once  more! 
(Falling  back  to  admire  Toinet) 
Ah,  what  a  fine  upstanding  lad! 
But  why  this  doubtful  air? 
I  know  that  your  Aline  loves  you. 
And  as  for  you,  what  you  don't  know 
Is  what  I  hope 
To  explain 

To  that  wicked  father  of  hers. 
(Toinet  laughs  a  great,   happy  laugh) 
That  makes  you  laugh? 
Tra-la-la-la! 
Now  you're  laughing 
The  matter's  ended. 
Come,  now  rejoice, 
Gladness  light  your  eyes, 
Toinet,  Toinette, 
And  content  fill  your  hearts. 
Do  as  I  do, 
The  good  fellow 

Who  does  everything  with  a  song. 
(He  draws  them  along,  cutting  capers  and  sing- 
ing amid  his  tears,  followed  by  the  ravished 
Toinette.) 

Sing  hay-dee-day, 
And  hay-dee-dee, 
At  the  fountain 
We  will  drink! 
We'll  drink  a  draught, 
Sing  hay-dee-dee, 
We'll  drink  a  draught 
At  the  fountain's  brink! 

(Curtain) 


ACTE  QUATRIEME 

Meme  decor  qiiau  Deuxieme  Acte.  Dans  le 
grand  fauteuil,  faisant  face  maintenant  a 
Voire  oil  rotit  une  oie,  FRANgois  est  assis 
vu  de  trois  quarts,  presque  en  profit  perdu. 
A  la  gauche  de  son  fauteuil,  une  chaise 
basse.  Le  centre  de  la  piece  est  occupee 
par  la  table  garnie  de  dix  converts,  sans 
les  chaises,  sauf  deux,  une  a  gauche,  une 
a,  droite  ;  la  table  est  deja  servie  a  peu  pres. 
L'horloge  haute  marque  onze  heures  .  el 
quelques  minutes. 

SCENE  PREMIERE 

Toinette,  Aline,  Francois,  Toinet 

(Toinette,  Aline  et  Toinet  s'occupent  a 
mettre  la  table.  FRANgois  est  dans  so?i 
fauteuil,  tourne  vers  le  feu.) 

Toinette 

Ah  !  voila  trois  mois,  qui  l'eut  cm, 

Que  vous  seriez  sitot  ma  bru, 

Et  que  chez  nous,  ma  chere  fille, 

On  feterait  la  Noel  en  famille  ? 

(Allant  cdliner  Franqois  et  lui  arrangeant  la 

tete  sur  son  oreiller.) 
Mon  pauvre  homme,  quoique  endormi 
Toujours  a  demi, 

En  aura  quand  meme  une  douceur  breve 
Comme  dans  un  reve. 

Aline 

Pendant  la  messe  de  minuit 
Qui  veillera  sur  lui  ? 


ACT  THE  FOURTH 

Scene  same  as  in  Act  II.  Frangois  is  seated 
in  a  large  armchair,  now  facing  the  hearth, 
where  a  goose  is  roasting.  He  sits  turned 
in  such  wise  that  his  profile  is  almost 
hidden.  At  the  left  of  his  armchair,  a  low 
chair.  The  middle  of  the  room  is  occupied 
by  a  table  laid  for  six,  but  with  only  two 
chairs,  one  at  the  left,  one  at  the  right. 
The  meal  is  about  ready  to  be  served.  The 
clock  shows  a  few  minutes  past  eleven. 


SCENE  I 

Toinette,  Aline,  Francois,  Toinet 

(Toinette,  Aline  and  Toinet  busy  setting 
the  table.  Francois  is  in  his  armchairy 
turned  toivard  the  fire.) 

Toinette 
Ah!  three  months  ago  who'd  have  thought 
You'd  be  my  daughter-in-law  so  soon; 
And  that  here  at  home,  dear  girl, 
We'd  have  a  family  Christmas  party? 
(Off  to  fondle  Franqois  and  arrange  his  head 

on  the  pillow) 
My  poor  man!     Though  always 
Half-asleep, 

E'en  he  will  gain  a  moment's  pleasure, 
As  though  it  were  a  dream! 

Aline 

Who'll  stay  to  watch  him 
During  the  midnight  mass? 


[55] 


56 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


SCENE  II 


Les  Memes,  Le  Chemineau 


Le  Chemineau  (blanc  de  neige  est  entre  avant 
la  fin  de  la  scene  prScede?ite.) 

Moi,  parbleu!    Qui  done  en  doute  ? 
C'est  pour  qsl  que  tout  expres 
J'ai  d'abord  sur  la  grand'route 
Empli  mes  poumons  d'air  frais. 


Toinet  (avec  tine  pointe  d'ironie) 
Et  de  neige  aussi,  me  semble  ? 


Le  Chemineau  (avec  une  douce  poesie) 

Oui,  mais  la  neige  neigeant, 
C'est  beau,  petit:  ga  ressemble, 
Tournoyant  et  voltigeant 
D'une  aile  blanche  qui  tremble, 
A  des  papillons  d'argent. 

(D'un  ton  passionne.) 

Ah!  ma  grand'route!  sur  elle, 
Tout  n'est-il  pas  beau  toujours  ? 
(Avec  amertume.) 

Helas!  voila  tantot  cent  jours 
Que  pour  vous  et  pour  vos  amours 
J'ai  cesse  d'etre  son  fidele  ! 

(Tristement.) 

Elle  s'en  plaint  aux  noirs  instants 
Ou,  triste  et  seul,  je  reve  d'elle; 
Et  je  l'entends,  ma  pauvre  belle, 
Qui  me  rappelle  notre  bon  temps, 
Le  temps  ou  dans  une  demeure 
Je  n'etais  pas  pris  a  leurs  glus, 
Le  temps  qui  ne  reviendra  plus 
Et  que  je  pleure. 

(II  se  laisse  en  sanglotani  choir  sur  une  chaise, 
pres  de  la  table.) 


SCENE  II 


The  Same,  The  Vagabond 


The  Vagabond 
(White  with  snow,   he  has   entered   before  the 
close  of  the  preceding  scene.) 

I,  of  course!     Who  can  doubt  it? — 

I  came  to  do  so  purposely; 

First  I  filled  my  lungs 

With  fresh  air  on  the  highway. 


Toinet  (with  a  touch  of  irony) 
And  with  snow  as  well,  it  seems? 


The  Vagabond  (with  poetic  tenderness) 

Aye,  but  the  falling  snow 
Is  beautiful,  my  boy; 
Whirling  and  twirling,  'tis  like 
The  quivering  white  wings 
Of  silver  butterflies. 

(passionately) 
Ah,  my  open  road,  along  your  way, 
Is  not  all  beautiful,  always? 
(bitterly) 

Alas!   'tis  now  a  hundred  days  or  more 

Since  I've  become  untrue 

To  you,  and  to  my  love  for  you! 

(sadly) 

And  in  dark  moments  you  reproach  me, 
When  sad  and  lonely  I  dream  of  you, 
And  I  hear  your  plaints,  my  poor  love, 
That  recall  our  happy  days, 
The  days  ere  I  was  caught 
And  snared  beneath  a  roof, 
The  days  that  never  will  return — 
The  days  I  weep — 
(Sobbing,  he  lets  himself  fall  into  a  chair  near 

the  table) 


THE   VAGABOND 


57 


SCENE  III 

Les  Memes,  Martin,  Thomas,  Catherine, 
Les  Chceurs 

(Aprcs  un  temps  oil  tous  se  taisent  embarrasses, 
on  entend  derriere  la  porte  des  voix 
appelant.) 

Martin  (frappant  a  la  porte) 
Harne  !  Harne  !  les  amis  ! 

Thomas  (ouvrant  la  porte) 
Peut-etre  ils  sont  endormis. 

.Catherine 

Oubliez'-vous  la  promesse 
D'etre  ensemble  au  domine  ? 

(Les  voisins  et  voisines  arrivent  et  se  gronpent 
au  dehors  devant  la  porte  d 'entree  dufond.) 


Catherine,  Martin,  Thomas  et  les  Chceurs, 

ensemble. 

Harne  !  Harne  !  Pour  quand  est-ce  ? 

Le  premier  coup  de  la  messe 

A  deja  carillonne. 

Harne  !  Harne  !  Pour  quand  est-ce  ? 

Harne  !  Harne  !  c'est  sonne. 

(Ils  s'en  vont  par  la  gauche.) 


SCENE  IV 

Les  Memes,  moins  Thomas,  Martin, 
Catherine  et  les  Chceurs 

(Pendant  que  le  clvpur  chantait,  Toinet  a  vite 
mis  sa  limousine  et  son  bonnet  fourre. 
Toinette  et  Aline  mettent  leurs  cape- 
lines  et  leurs  mantes.) 

Toinet  (entrainant  Aline) 
Ho  !  maman  !  Faut   pas   qu'on   lanterne. 


SCENE  III 

The  Same,   Martin,   Thomas,   Catherine, 
the  Choruses 

(After  a  pause  filled  by  an  embarrassed  silence 
on  the  part  of  all,  voices  are  heard  calling 
behind  the  door.) 

Martin  (knocking  at  the  door) 
Hallo,  hallo  there,  friends! 

Thomas  (opening  the  door) 
Perhaps  they've  fallen  asleep? 

Catherine 

Have  you  forgotten  our  agreement 
To  come  together  this  Sunday? 

(Neighbors,  men  and  women,  arrive  and  group 
themselves  without,  before  the  entrance  door 
at  the  back.) 

Catherine,  Martin,  Thomas  and  the 
Choruses,  together 

Hallo,  hallo!     When  will  you  be  ready? 
The  first  bell  for  mass 
Has  already  been  rung. 
Hallo,  hallo!     When  will  you  be  ready? 
Hallo,   hallo!     The  chimes  have  been  rung. 

(Off  to  the  left) 


SCENE  IV 

The  Same,  without  Thomas,  Martin, 
Catherine  and  the  Choruses 

(While  the  Chorus  was  singing,  Toinet  put 
on  his  rough  coat  and  his  fur  cap.  Toi- 
nette and  Aline  put  on  their  capes  and 
cloaks.) 

Toinet   (carrying   off  Aline  with   him) 
Ho,  Mamma!     No  time  for  trifling! 


58 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Aline    (deja   dehors,    a   Toinette. — lis   s'en 
vont,  elle  et  Toinette,  par  la  gauche) 

Vite  !  vite  !  On  vous  attend. 


SCENE  V 

Toinette,  Le  Chemineau 

Toinette  (vers  la  droite  en  allumant 
la  lanterne) 

J'allume  la  lanterne. 

Le  Chemineau  (se  retournant) 

Ne  reste  done  pas  tant. 
Tu  les  fais  geler  en  restant. 

Toinette  (rentrant  un  peu) 
Tu  les  aimes  done  ? 

Le  Chemineau  (bourru) 
Mais  sans  doute. 

Toinette 
Et  tu  les  quitterais,  mauvais, 
Pour  ta  grand'route  ! 
Non,  bien  siir.     Aussi  je  m'en  vais 
Sans  avoir  Fame  en  peine. 
Tu  ne  partiras  plus,  j'en  suis  certaine  ! 

(Elle  sort  far  le  fond.) 

SCENE  VI 

Le  Chemineau  (seul) 

Le  Chemineau  (toujours  assis) 
Helas  !     Je  crois  qu'elle  a  raison, 
Elle,  et  les  enfants,  et  le  vieux  lui-meme, 
Et  jusqu'a  la  maison, 
Helas  !     oui,  je  les  aime  ! 


Aline  (already  without,  to  Toinette. — Going 
off,  she  and  Toinet,  to  the  left) 

Hurry,  hurry!     They're  waiting  for  you! 


SCENE  V 

Toinette,  The  Vagabond 

Toinette  (going  to  the  right  and  lighting 
lantern) 

I'll  light  the  lantern. 

The  Vagabond  (turning  round) 

Don't  delay  so  long, 

They'll  freeze  waiting  for  you. 

Toinette  (coming  back  a  little) 
You're  fond  of  them,  eh? 

The  Vagabond  (peevishly) 
Why,  of  course! 

Toinette 

And  you'd  leave  them,  you  rascal, 

For  the  open  road! 

No,  indeed  you'd  not.     So  I'm  off 

With  my  soul  at  ease, 

For  you'll  not  run  away  again,  I'm  sure! 

(Exit  at  back) 


SCENE  VI 

The  Vagabond  (alone) 

The  Vagabond  (still  seated) 

Alas!     I'm  afraid  she's  right. 

She  and  the  children,  and  the  old  man  himself, 

And  even  the  house, 

Alas,  yes,  I  love  them! 


THE   VAGABOND 


59 


SCENE  VII 


Le  Chemineau,  Les  Lugnots  (a  la  cantonade) 

(Le  Chemineau  est  absorbs  dans  ses  pensees. 
De  loin,  a  droite,  vient,  comme  an  murmure, 
le  chant  presque  indistinct  des  Lugnots.) 

Lugnots,  lugnots,  la  part  a  Dieu  ! 
Les  petiots  vous  la  demandent. 
Vous  qu'avez  trop,  donnez  un  peu 
A  ceux  qui  n'ont  ni  pain,  ni  flambe. 
S'il  vous  plait,  la  part  a  Dieu  ! 


SCENE  VIII 

Le  Chemineau  (seul) 
Ah  !     ce  sont,  par  le  village, 
Les  petits  lugnots  quetant. 

(Avec  melancolie.) 
J'en  faisais  autant  a  leur  age. 
Et  c'est  de  la  qu'un  jour  m'est  venu 
Le  gout  du  libre  vagabondage, 
L'essor  vers  le  ciel  de  l'inconnu. 

(De  plus  en  plus  sombre,  la  tete  dans  ses  mains.) 

Helas  !     pauvre  oiseau  sauvage, 
C'est  done  vrai  que  tout  finit, 
Et  que  la  tiedeur  d'un  nid 
Va  te  mettre  en  cage  ! 


SCENE  IX 

Maitre  Pierre,  Le  Chemineau 

(Maitre  Pierre  est  entre,  venant  de  la  droite, 
pendant  les  derniers  quatre  vers  du  Che- 
mineau, quil  a  entendu.) 

Maitre   Pierre   (lui  frappant  sur  Vepaule) 

Ne  t'en  plains  pas.  Le  nid  sera  doux. 
Et  pour  que  sa  tiedeur  soit  plus  douce, 
Moi-meme  j'y  mettrai  de  la  mousse. 


SCENE  VII 


The  Vagabond,  the  Waits  (off-stage) 

(The  Vagabond  is  absorbed  in  his  thoughts. 
From  afar  on  the  right,  murmuringly, 
comes  the  indistinct  singing  of  the  Waits.) 

Waits,  Waits,  in  God  His  name! 

We  little  ones  you  now  implore, 

You  who  have  plenty,  to  give  of  your  store 

To  those  who  have  neither  bread  nor  flame, 

If  you  please,  in  God  His  name! 


SCENE  VIII 

The  Vagabond  (alone) 
Ah,  it  is  the  Waits 
Asking  alms  through  the  village. 

(sadly) 

I  did  the  same  thing  at  their  age: 

And  that's  how,  one  day,  I  gained 

My  liking  for  vagabond  freedom, 

The  urge  toward  the  skyline  of  the  unknown. 

(More  and  more  gloomily,  his  head  in  his  hands) 

Alas,  poor  captive  wild  bird, 
This  time  'tis  true  that  all's  at  an  end, 
And  that  the  warmth  of  a  nest 
Has  caged  you! 


SCENE  IX 

Master  Pierre,  The  Vagabond 

(Master  Pierre  has  entered  from  the  right 
and  heard  the  last  four  lines  uttered  by  the 
Vagabond.) 

Master  Pierre  (clapping  him  on  the  shoulder) 
Do  not  complain.     The  nest  will  be  soft, 
And  to  make  it  even  softer  still 
I'll  put  some  moss  in  it  myself. 


/ 


60 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Puisque  tu  fus  bon  envers  nous, 

Je  veux  t'en  offrir  recompense  honnete, 

Le  jour  ou  tu  seras  l'epoux 

De  la  Toinette. 

Le  Chemineau 
Quoi  !  tu  penses  ? 

Maitre  Pierre 

Mais  rien  de  mal. 
Chacun  le  dit,  et  c'est  normal. 
Loin  de  t'en  blamer,  on  t'en  felicite. 
(Minuit  sonne  a  Vhorloge.) 

Diable  !     Minuit  tapant  ! 

Je  me  sauve  vite... 

Nous  en  redirons  deux  mots  en  soupant. 

(II  se  sauve  par  la  gauche,  fermant  la  porte.) 


SCENE  X 

Le  Chemineau,  Francois 

Le  Chemineau  (dans  un  grand  trouble) 

Alors  on  croit  ga  ?     Tout  le  monde  ! 
Peut-etre  meme  a.  la  maison  ? 

(Avec  une  indignation  croissante.) 

Et  tous  ils  me  donnent  raison  ? 

Ah  !     Ce  serait  immonde  ! 

Moi,  manger  ce  pain  de  Judas  !... 

Non  !     Non  !     Jamais  !     Je  ne  veux  pas  ! 

Francois  (de  son  fauteuil  avec  une  voix  loin- 

taine.) 

Chemineau  ! 

Le  Chemineau 
Qui  m'appelle  ?     Qu'est-ce  ? 

FRANgois  (insistant) 
Chemineau  ! 


And  since  you've  treated  us  so  well, 
I'll  make  it  up  to  you,  as  is  but  right, 
The  day  when  you  become 
The  husband  of  Toinette. 


The  Vagabond 
What,  you  think — ? 

Master  Pierre 
Oh,  nothing  wrong! 
Every  one  says  it,  and  it's  natural. 
Far  from  blaming,   I  congratulate  you. 

(The  clock  strikes  midnight) 

The  devil!     The  midnight  chime! 

I'm  off  at  once. 

We'll  talk  of  it  again  at  supper. 

(He  hurries  away  to  the  left,  closing  the  door) 


SCENE  X 

The  Vagabond,  Franqois 

The  Vagabond  (alone,  greatly  agitated) 
Then  they  believe  that?     Everybody! 
Here  at  home  as  well,  perhaps? 
(With  increasing  indignation) 

And  they  all  think  me  in  the  right! 
Ah!     it  would  be  a  dirty  trick! 
I  sharing  their  bread,  to  be  such  a  Judas! 
No,  no!     Never!     I  will  not! 

FRANgois    (from   his   armchair,   in   a  distant 
voice) 

Vagabond! 

The  Vagabond 
Who's  calling  me?     What  is  it? 

FRANgois  (insisting) 
Vagabond! 


THE   VAGABOND 


61 


Le  Chemineau  {revenant  a  lui) 
Ah  ?     toi,  Francois  ? 
Tu   n'as   plus   chaud  ?     Oui,    je   vois, 
Et  le  feu  baisse. 
Attends,  je  vais  querir  du  bois. 


Franqois 

Non,  reste  !     Je  suis  a  mon  aise, 
Tourne-moi  vers  la  lumiere. 

(Le  Chemineau  obeit,  le  mettant  face  au  'public) 

Bien  !     Prends  une  chaise  ! 

(Le    Chemineau  la  prend  et    Vapproche    de 
Frangois  a,  droite.) 

Assieds-toi  !    Bien  !    Ecoute.    Tu  m'entends  ? 

(Le  Chemineau,  de  la  tete,fait  signe  que  oui.) 

Sans    en    avoir   l'air,    depuis    quelque   temps 
Je  comprends  tout... 

(Le  Chemineau  veut  Vinterrompre.) 

Laisse  !     Laisse  ! 
Ne  m'interromps  pas. 
C'est  a  peine  dans  ma  faiblesse, 
Si  je  peux  te  dire  tout  bas 
Des  choses  qu'il  faut  quand  meme 
Que  je  te  dise  avant  1'instant  supreme. 
Et  d'abord,  merci  ! 

(Le  Chemineau  fait  le  geste  de  quelquun  qui 
ne  merite  pas  cette  gratitude.) 

Si !     Si ! 
Je  sais  comme 

Tu  t'es  conduit  pour  tous...  ici. 
C'est  bien,  vois-tu  !   C'est  d'un  brave  homme  ! 
J'en  suis  un  aussi, 
Et  done,  ma  volonte  nette 
Est  que  tu  prennes,  Chemineau, 
(Dans  un  sanglot.) 
A  mon  doigt,  cet  anneau... 
(La  voix  s'eteint  pen  a  peu  jusqua  la  fin  de  la 

scene.) 
Pour  epouser...  Ah  !     ce  bruit  dans  ma  tete ! 
Ce  brouillard  sur  mes  yeux  !... 
Je...  ne... 


The  Vagabond  (himself  again) 
Ah,  'tis  you,  Frangois? 

You're  feeling  cold?     Yes,  I  see,  the  fire's  low. 
Wait,  and  I'll  fetch  some  wood. 


Francois 

No,   stay!     I'm  comfortable. 

Turn  me  round  to  the  light. 

(The  Vagabond  turns  him,  so  that  he  faces  the 

audience) 

Good!     Now  get  a  chair. 

(The  Vagabond  fetches  one  and  approaches 
Franqois  from  the  right) 

Sit    down!     Good!     Now    listen.     Can    you 
understand  me? 

(The  Vagabond  nods  affirmatively) 

Without  having  shown  it,  for  some  time  now 

I've  understood  everything — 

(The  Vagabond  attempts  to  interrupt  him) 

Wait,  wait!     Do  not  interrupt  me. 
My  weakness  barely  lets  me 
Talk  to  you  in  a  low  voice. 
But  there  are  things  which  I  must  tell  you, 
At  all  costs,  before  my  last  moment  comes. 
And  first  of  all,  my  thanks! 
(The   Vagabond   makes   a  gesture  conveying 
deprecation  of  his  gratitude) 

Yes,  yes!     Well  I  know 

How  you've  acted  toward  all  of  us — here. 

It's  kind,  d'you  see.     You've  been  an  honest 

man, 
And  I'm  one,  too, 
And  so,  it's  my  fixed  wish 
That  you  take,  Vagabond, 

(with  a  sob) 
This  ring  here,  on  my  hand — 
(His  voice  dying  gradually  away  to  the  close  of 

the  scene) 
To  marry — Ah,  this  noise  in  my  head-! 
This  cloud  before  my  eyes! — 
I—  I— 


62 


LE   CHEMINEAU 


Le  Chemineau  (sanglotant) 
Tais-toi,  mon  vieux  !... 
(Lui  arrangeant  la  tete  sur  Voreiller) 
La  tete  ainsi,  c'est  bien? 

Franqois 
Oui,  mieux  ! 

Le  Chemineau 
Dors  !     Dors  ! 

Franqois  (suppliant) 
Ne  t'en  va  pas  ! 

Le  Chemineau  (agenouille) 
Regarde. 
(La  voix  couverte  de  larmes) 
Je  suis  la.     Ne  crains  rien  !     Je  te  garde. 

SCENE  XI 

Les  Lugnots,  Franqois,  Le  Chemineau 

(Les  Lugnots  apparaissent  derriere  les  vitres 
de  la  fenetre  sous  la  neige.) 

Les  Lugnots 
Lugnots  !  lugnots  !  La  part  a  Dieu  ! 
Les  petiots  vous  la  demandent. 
Vous  qu'avez  trop,  donnez  un  peu 
A  ceux  qui  n'ont  ni  pain  ni  flambe, 
S'il  vous  plait,  la  part  a  Dieu  !... 

Lugnots  !  lugnots  !  La  part  a  Dieu  !... 

N'nous  la  fait's  pas  trop  attende. 

A  rester  la  les  pieds  dans  l'iau, 

Le  froid  des  pieds  nous  monte  aux  jambes. 

S'il  vous  plait,  la  part  a  Dieu  !... 

(Pendant  le  second  couplet,  Le  Chemineau 
s'est  leve,  s'est  approche  de  la  table,  a 
coupe  un  morceau  de  pore,  Va  mis  dans  un 


The  Vagabond  (sobbing) 
Not  a  word  more,  old  man! 
(Adjusting  his  head  on  the  pillow) 

The  head  so,  is  that  right? 

Franqois 
Yes,  that's  better! 

The  Vagabond 
Sleep,  sleep! 

Franqois  (supplicatingly) 
Don't  go  away! 

The  Vagabond  (kneeling) 
Look  at  me. 
(with  tears  in  his  voice) 
I'm  here.     Don't  fear!     I'll  watch  over  you. 

SCENE  XI 

The  Waits,  Franqois,  The  Vagabond 

(The  Waits  appear  outside  the  window,  in  the 
snoiv) 

The  Waits 

Waits,  Waits,  in  God  His  name! 

We  little  ones  you  now  implore, 

You  who've  plenty,  give  of  your  store 

To  those  who  have  neither  bread  nor  flame, 

If  you  please,  in  God  His  name! 

Waits,  Waits,  in  God  His  name! 

Don't  keep  us  standing,  but  let  us  go! 

A-waiting  here,  our  feet  in  the  snow, 

The  cold  in  our  feet  our  legs  will  gain, 

If  you  please,  in  God  His  name! 

(During  the  second  stanza  The  Vagabond  has 
risen,  gone  to  the  table,  cut  a  piece  of  pork, 
wrapped  it  in  a  hunch  of  bread,  and  has 


THE   VAGABOND 


63 


quignon  de  pain,  puis  est  alle  ouvrir  la 
porte  devant  laquelle  viennent  les  Lugnots.) 

Le  Chemineau  (leur  tendant  le  pain) 
Tenez,  petits  ! 

Le  Plus  Age  des  Lugnots 
Que  Dieu  vous  en  guerdonne  ! 

Le  Chemineau  (montrant  Franqois) 
Ce  n'est  pas  moi,  c'est  lui  qui  vous  le  donne. 

Le  Grand  Lugnot  (s'avangant) 
Ah!    le  pauvre  vieux,  dans  le  grand  fauteuil  ! 

Le  Chemineau 
Oui,  venez-la  sous  l'auvent,  sur  le  seuil  ! 
Vous  aurez  moins  de  neige  a,  la  frimousse. 
Chantez  pour  lui  !...    Votre  voix  la  plus  douce. 


Le  Chemineau  et  Les  Lugnots  (doucement) 

Lugnots  !    lugnots  !    La  part  a  Dieu  ! 
Dieu  saura  ben  vous  la  rende, 
Quand  nous  ferons  la  guillanneu 
Aupres  de  lui  tertous  ensemble. 
S'il  vous  plait,  la  part  a  Dieu  ! 

(Le  Chemineau  cherche  dans  ses  poches  et  en 
a  tire  une  poignee  de  sous.) 

Le  Chemineau 
Tiens  !  prends  cor  ca.     Maigre  est  la  somme, 
Tu  n'en  seras  pas  bien  charge. 
Mais  helas  !...    C'est  tout  ce  que  j'ai. 
Et  bon  Noel,  mon  petit  homme  ! 

Le  Grand  Lugnot 
Merci  !...    Merci  !... 
Et  bon  Noel  a  vous  aussi  ! 

(lis  s'en  vont  par  la  gauche  et  Le  Chemineau 
referme  la  porte.) 


gone  to  the  door,  to  which  the  Waits  now 
come.) 

The  Vagabond  (holding  out  the  parcel) 
Here,  children! 

The  Oldest  Wait 
May  God  reward  you! 

The  Vagabond  (pointing  to  Francois) 
'Tis  he  who  gives  it  you,  not  I. 

The  Oldest  Wait  (coming  forward) 
Oh,  the  poor  old  man  in  his  big  armchair! 

The  Vagabond 

Yes,  come  here,  under  the  penthouse,  on  the 

sill! 
You'll  have  less  of  the  driving  snow. 
Sing  for  him! — As  sweetly  as  you  can. 

The  Vagabond  and  the  Waits  (softly) 
Waits,  Waits!     In  God  His  name! 
God  will  give  you  good  return 
When  above  we  around  Him  turn 
All  together,  a-singing  His  fame, 
If  you  please,  in  God  His  name! 

(The  Vagabond  goes  through  his  pockets  and 
draws  forth  a  handful  of  coppers) 

The  Vagabond 
There,  take  that,  too!     It's  not  much, 
You'll  not  be  loaded  down  with  carrying  it. 
But  alas! — It's  all  I  have, 
And  a  Merry  Christmas,  little  man! 

The  Oldest  Wait 

Thanks!     Thanks! 

We  wish  you  a  Merry  Christinas  as  well ! 

(They  go  off  to  the  left  and  The  Vagabond 
closes  the  door) 


64 


SCENE  XII 
Le  Chemineau,  Les  Lugnots 


LE   CHEMINEAU 

SCENE  XII 

The  Vagabond,  the  Waits 


(Pendant  la  scene  suivante,  on  entendra  en 
sourdine  les  chants  de  Veglise,  les  cloches 
annongant  la  fin  de  la  messe,  et  la  cantilene 
chantee  plus  loin,  des  Lugnots.) 

Le  Chemineau,  avec  Francois 
Ah!  bon  Noel  a  toi,  surtout,  qui  vas  t'eteindre. 
Et  tu  l'auras,  car  c'est  d'atteindre 
La  fin  de  tes  longs  jours  vecus  en  travaillant, 
Et  de  l'atteindre  ainsi,  bon  cceur  vaillant. 
(S'approchant  de  Francois,  le  considerant  el 
lui  touchant  legerement  le  front.) 

Comme  il  dort  ealme  !  Plus  de  fievre  ! 

Aucune  angoisse  a  son  front  ! 

Ses  cheris  a  temps  reviendront 

Pour  cueillir  sur  sa  levre 

Son  dernier  baiser,  son  dernier  soupir. 

Doucement  il  va  s'assoupir 

Dans  les  bras  des  etres  qu'il  aime. 

Et  ce  sera  le  prix  supreme, 

La  noble  fleur, 

D 'avoir  use  sa  vie  a  soutenir  la  leur  ! 

Ah!  cette  mort  ne  peut  etre  la  mienne  ! 

Rien  que  d'en  rever  l'aubaine 

C'est  un  reve  de  voleur  !... 

(Farouche.) 

Moi,  je  suis  un  grenipille, 

Hors  la  loi,  hors  la  famille, 

Un  gueux  qui  doit  mourir  seul, 

Sans  baisers  et  sans  absoute, 

Et  drape  pour  tout  linceul 

Dans  le  vent  de  la  grand'route. 

(Les  cloches  carillonnent  plus  fort.  II  va  ouvrir 
la  porte  et  regarde  a  gauche.  A  partir  de 
ce  moment,  jusqu'a  la  fin,  le  bruit  des 
cloches,  le  cantique  de  sortie  de  Veglise  et 
la  cantilene  des  Lugnots feront  symphonie, 
suivant  les  dernieres  paroles  du  Chemi- 
neau.) 


(During  the  following  scene  the  chanting  in  the 
church,  the  bell-chimes  announcing  the  end 
of  the  mass,  and  the  distant  song  of  the 
Waits,  are  heard  softly  sounding) . 

The  Vagabond  (with  Francois) 

Ah,  Christmas  brings  you  joy,  whose  life-light 
flickers ! 

And  'twill  be  yours,  for  it  means  you're  gain- 
ing 

The  end  of  life's  long  day  you've  spent  in 
labor, 

And  you'll  have  reached  your  goal,  good, 
valiant  heart. 

(Approaching  Francois,  he  looks  at  him  and 

lightly  touches  his  forehead) 
How  calmly  he  sleeps !     No  fever, 
No  anguish  mars  his  brow! 
His  loved  ones  will  return  in  time 
To  know  his  farewell  kiss, 
His  parting  sigh. 
Softly  he  will  pass  out, 
In  the  arms  of  those  whom  he  loved. 
And  that  will  be  the  prize  supreme, 
The  noble  flower, 

Of  a  life  used  to  sustain  their  own! 
Ah,  such  a  death  cannot  be  mine! 
Only  to  dream  of  such  a  gift, 
Would  be  to  thieve  in  dreaming! 

(savagely) 

I,  I'm  a  wanderer, 

Knowing  no  law,  nor  any  ties  of  home. 

A  beggar  who  must  die  alone, 

Without  a  kiss  or  absolution  given, 

With  nothing  for  my  winding-sheet 

But  the  winds  of  the  highway. 

(The  bells  chime  out  sonorously.  He  opens  the 
door  and  looks  out  to  the  left.  From  now 
on  to  the  end,  the  chime  of  the  bells,  the 
postlude  chanted  from  the  church,  and  the 
singing  of  the  Waits  sound  together,  suc- 
ceeding the  Vagabond's  last  words.) 


THE   VAGABOND 


65 


Le  Chemineau 

On  sort  de  l'eglise. 

(Vers  Francois,  du  seuil) 

Adieu,  vieux  !... 
Tes  chers  aimes  vont  te  fermer  les  yeux. 

(Avec  un  profond  sanglot) 
Ah!     je  les  aime  aussi  ! 

(En  un  cri  dechirant) 

Toinette  ! 
(En  un  cri  plus  dechirant  encore) 
Mon  gas  ! 
(Se  reprenant  et  resolument) 
Mais  si  je  les  revois,  je  ne  pars  pas, 
Et  c'est  de  partir  que  ma  vie  est  faite. 
(Lyriquement) 

Ah!     qu'a  leur  souvenir  lointain 

Tout  mon  cceur  s'illumine  ! 

(Dans  une  exaltation  farouche  et  grandiose) 

Et  toi,  suis  ton  destin  ! 
(II  s'en  va,  les  bras  au  del,  dans  la  neige) 
Va,  Chemineau,  chemine  ! 


(Rideau) 


The  Vagabond 
They're  leaving  the  church. 

(To  Francois,  from  the  threshold) 

Farewell,  old  man! 

Your  dear  ones  come  to  close  your  eyes. 
(With  a  profound  sigh) 
Ah,  I  love  them,  too! 
(With  a  heart-rending  cry) 

Toinette! 
(With  a  cry  still  more  intense) 

My  boy! 
(Controlling  himself,  resolutely) 

But  if  I  see  them  once  more,  I'll  not  go  away, 
And  going  away  is  all  my  life. 
(lyrically) 

Ah,  at  their  distant  memory, 
All  my  heart  will  rejoice! 
(To  himself,  with  grandiose  and  savage  exalta- 
tion) 

And  you,  follow  your  fate! 

(Off,  his  arms  raised  skyward,  through  the  snow) 

On,  tramp,  take  the  road! 

(Curtain) 


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